Bartels is seeking another term in office
HARTINGTON – A Cedar County commissioner was the first to file for re-election Friday, Jan. 5, the first date candidates could do so.
Craig Bartels, Belden, is officially seeking re-election for his seat representing the county’s second district, which includes Randolph, Belden, Coleridge and Laurel. He’s the only member of the three-person commissioners board with an expiring term.
Incumbents have until Thursday, Feb. 15, to file for public office and newcomers until Friday, March 1.
In Laurel, three school board members have expiring terms – Carol Erwin, Dustin Thompson and Samuel Recob.
The Laurel City Council’s Chad Johnson and Justin Ericksen have expiring terms as well as Mayor Keith Knudsen.
The statewide primary election is set for Tuesday, May 14.
All village board races will appear on the general election ballot only. The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Village board incumbents have until Monday, July 15, to file for re-election while all new candidates will have until Thursday, Aug. 1.
Those filing for county and local elections will do so with the Cedar County Clerk’s office. Candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Public Service Commissioner, Legislature, Natural Resources Districts, and others file with the Secretary of State.
Residents can look up their voter registration or register to vote online through the Nebraska Secretary of State website, sos.nebraska.gov/elections/ elections-division.
There is also a form available online or in person at the Cedar County Clerk’s Office.
The Secretary of State indicates there are more than 1.2 million active registered voters in the state – more than 600,000 registered Republicans; more than 330,000 registered Democrats; 18,000 Libertarians; 5,000 for the Legal Marijuana NOW Party and more than 260,000 who vote nonpartisan.
County Clerk Dave Dowling, who officially retired Tuesday, said he will be guiding his successor, Jessica Schmidt, with her new election commissioner role.
Dowling said the clerk’s office has not yet received any specific information from the state about the process for implementing and processing Voter ID in Cedar County’s all-mail elections.
In 2022, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring voter to show ID. In June 2023, the governor signed into law LB514, the bill putting voter ID into effect.
Educational materials on Voter ID indicate voters should write their driver’s license or state ID number on the ballot return envelope or enclose a copy of their valid photo ID with their ballot.
Ballots are mailed 20 days prior to election to all registered voters in the county. Those Randolph residents who vote in Pierce County must appear at their designated polling places in person on Election Day and bring their state-issued ID with them.