Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The 2018 year will include another chance for voters to decide their policy-makers and office holders.
Deadlines are quickly approaching for voters and for candidates. On Jan. 14, voters can begin requesting an early voting ballot.
The only requirement to be a voter in Nebraska is to be a United States citizen and a permanent resident of Nebraska; there is no minimum length of residency requirement. Also, residents can register to vote as young as 17 years of age, if they are 18 on or by Tuesday, Nov. 6, the date of the General Election.
No identification is required to vote or to register to vote.
For candidates, the first deadline is Feb. 15, the cutoff date for incumbents to file for candidacy. Anyone currently in office and seeking to return to public office is defined as an incumbent, according to Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh.
“You don’t have to hold the office you’re running for to be an incumbent,” she said.
The last day for a non-office holder to file candidacy is March 1.
Fiegenschuh said a candidate can file for candidacy even if he or she does not live in the county they are seeking election. However, if elected the candidate will need to move to the electorate’s county.
In Sidney, all city council seats are at-large; there are no wards or districts. The Cheyenne County commissioners are elected each representing a specific district. School board members also must live within the district they seek to represent.
Filing forms are available in the County Clerk’s Office. A filing fee must also be paid at the county treasurer’s office and the receipt brought to the clerk’s office. Fees for city council positions are paid at city hall and there are no fees for school board positions.
Candidates are also required to submit accountability and disclosure forms to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC). The NADC is an independent agency of the State of Nebraska that administers and enforces the State’s campaign finance laws, laws on lobbying and conflict of interest laws.
Ballot questions can also be filed until March 1.
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