Library Closed for Renovations

Aug 1st through 15th

A Note From Nancy Josoff

Dear John,

I received this news announcement from the Secretary of State.  (below) I’m thinking with the Louisville School Bond election this may be a very good piece of news you may want to place in your news letter.  Maybe it will help folks understand why we are having an All-Mail Election for the school.

  Ballots will me Mailed 8/26/09

All-mail special elections gain favor in Nebraska

LINCOLN – Holding elections in Nebraska doesn’t necessarily mean going to polling places to vote.

Local special elections conducted exclusively by mail are becoming more common in Nebraska, especially in political subdivisions with smaller populations, according to Secretary of State John Gale.

Gale is a strong proponent of all-mail voting in special elections. “This method is consistently producing heightened interest by the electorate regarding pocketbook issues with an increased voter turnout as a result,” he said.
 
All-mail special elections can only be used in non-candidate situations such as a bond issue, tax levy override or sales tax issue. Special elections involving an office vacancy or a recall of an official must use polling places.
   
Of 20 non-candidate special elections held in Nebraska in 2008, seven used the all-mail method, Gale said.
 
The seven all-mail elections had turnouts ranging from 43 to 87 percent of registered voters, with an average turnout of 64 percent.

The 13 special elections using polling places had turnouts ranging from 19 to 44 percent of registered voters, with an average turnout of 31 percent.
 
“The best news with the all-mail elections is that a greater number of voters have a say on the matter,” Gale said. “Such participation is certainly healthier for our democracy.”  

All-mail special elections are continuing to see good use in 2009, according to Gale. For the first six months of the year, there have been 15 non-candidate special elections held in Nebraska, with nine using the all-mail method.

Besides producing higher turnouts, the all-mail elections have the advantages of avoiding weather problems, being convenient for voters and avoiding the cost of using polling places, Gale said.

The Legislature in 1996 authorized all-mail special elections in non-candidate situations.
 
In 2005, the Legislature passed a law that authorized county election officials to designate whether a non-candidate special election would be held exclusively by mail or through the use of polling places. Previously, that decision was determined by the political subdivision calling the election. Gale strongly supported the 2005 legislation.  

“As a result of the 2005 law, our county election officials are increasingly using the all-mail method,” Gale said. “It is proving to be an effective alternative.”

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(sample ballot)

NOTICE OF ELECTION

CASS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 0032

(LOUISVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS)

IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA

              Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, the 15th day of September, 2009 in Cass County School District 0032 (Louisville Public Schools), a special election will be held.  Said election will be held for the registered voters of Cass and Sarpy Counties who reside within the Louisville Public School District who will approve or reject the following proposition:

              "Shall Cass County School District 0032 (Louisville Public Schools), in the State of Nebraska, issue the bonds of said District in the principal amount of not to exceed SEVEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($7,650,000) for the purpose of renovating and remodeling the existing K-12 facility, constructing an addition or additions adjacent to the existing K-12 facility, land acquisition and site improvements, including parking as well as football field, track and playground area improvements and providing for the necessary furniture, equipment and apparatus for such school building, additions and improvements, said bonds to bear interest at a rate or rates to be determined by the Board of Education and to become due at such time or times as may be fixed by the Board of Education; and

              "Shall the District cause to be levied and collected annually a special levy of taxes against all the taxable property in said District sufficient in rate and amount to pay the interest and principal of said bonds as the same become due?"

                                                        FOR          said bonds and tax

                                                        AGAINST    said bonds and tax

              Electors voting in favor of the proposition shall blacken completely the oval opposite the words “FOR said bonds and tax” following said proposition, and electors voting against said proposition shall blacken completely the oval opposite the words “AGAINST said bonds and tax” following said proposition.

This election will be an election by mail.  All registered voters residing within the Louisville Public School District will be mailed a ballot on the same day. Ballots will be mailed by the Cass County Election Commissioner between August 26 and September 4,  2009.

The deadline to register to vote at an agency, with a deputy registrar, or by mail is August 28, 2009.  The deadline for in-person registration at the Cass County Election Commissioner’s office is September 4, 2009 until 6:00 p.m.

Ballots shall be available for Early Voting no later than August 31, 2009, and until the day ballots are mailed out to the voters. Applications for an early voting ballot by mail are located on the Cass County Election Commissioner’s website, http://www.cassne.org/electcomm.html.

The Cass County Election Commissioner will provide replacement ballots to voters who sign a statement and verify by oath that his/her mailed ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received. The deadline for the replacement request by mail is September 4, 2009, at 5:00 p.m.  The deadline for the replacement request if submitted in person is September 15, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

http://www.cassne.org/electcomm.html