reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NE Code § 32-960 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-960 - County with less than ten thousand inhabitants; elections conducted by mail; application for approval; contents; requirements for voting and returning ballots.

32-960.  County with less than ten thousand inhabitants; elections conducted by mail; application for approval; contents; requirements for voting and returning ballots.(1) In any county with less than ten thousand inhabitants, the county clerk may apply to the Secretary of State to mail ballots for all elections held after approval of the application to registered voters of any or all of the precincts in the county. The application shall include a written plan for the conduct of the election which complies with this section, including a timetable for the conduct of the election and provisions for the notice of election to be published and for the application for ballots for early voting notwithstanding other statutory provisions regarding the content and publication of a notice of election or the application for ballots for early voting. If the Secretary of State approves such application for one or more precincts in the county, the county clerk shall follow the applicable procedures in sections 32-953 to 32-959 for conducting elections by mail, except that the deadline for receipt of the ballots shall be 8 p.m. on the day of the election.(2) The county clerk of a county that has an approved application pursuant to subsection (1) of this section:(a) Shall allow a voter to return the ballot by hand-delivering it to the office of the county clerk;(b) Shall maintain at least one secure ballot drop-box available for voters to deposit completed ballots twenty-four hours per day, starting at least ten days before the election through the deadline provided in subsection (1) of this section for the receipt of ballots;(c) Shall maintain at least one in-person voting location at the office of the county clerk at which a voter in a precinct subject to a plan under this section approved by the Secretary of State may receive and cast a ballot which shall be open on the day of the election from the time for opening the polls pursuant to section 32-908 through the deadline provided in subsection (1) of this section for the receipt of ballots;(d) Shall maintain in-person early voting opportunities as described in section 32-942; and(e) May provide additional secure ballot drop-boxes and in-person voting locations that need not be open according to the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) of this subsection.Source  Laws 2005, LB 401, § 9;  Laws 2009, LB501, § 3;  Laws 2020, LB1055, § 14.
NE Code § 32-961 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-961 - Poll watchers; eligibility; appointment; notice required.

32-961.  Poll watchers; eligibility; appointment; notice required.(1)(a) To be eligible to be a poll watcher, an individual shall be either:(i) A registered voter of this state; or(ii) An individual representing a state-based, national, or international election monitoring organization.(b) A candidate or a spouse of a candidate on the ballot at the election shall not be eligible for appointment as a poll watcher at such election.(2) For poll watchers eligible under subdivision (1)(a)(i) of this section, any political party in Nebraska, a candidate for election in Nebraska not affiliated with a political party, an organization of persons interested in a question on the ballot, or a nonpartisan organization interested in Nebraska's elections and the elective process may appoint one or more poll watchers. Any such person or organization intending to appoint one or more poll watchers shall provide written notification to the election commissioner or county clerk of the county in which the poll watchers will be active on election day no later than the close of business on the Wednesday prior to election day. The notification shall include a list of appointed poll watchers and a list of the precincts that the poll watchers plan to observe and shall be provided prior to each election at which one or more poll watchers will be active. A poll watcher shall not be denied entry to a polling place because the poll watcher is not on the list or because the precinct is not on the list.(3) For poll watchers eligible under subdivision (1)(a)(ii) of this section, any national or international election monitoring organization intending to appoint one or more poll watchers shall provide written notification to the Secretary of State no later than the close of business on the Wednesday prior to election day. The notification shall include a list of appointed poll watchers and a list of the counties and precincts to be observed and shall be provided prior to each election at which one or more poll watchers will be active.Source Laws 2020, LB1055, § 10.
NE Code § 32-962 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-962 - Poll watchers; credential; requirements; notice.

32-962.  Poll watchers; credential; requirements; notice.(1) For poll watchers eligible under subdivision (1)(a)(i) of section 32-961, the election commissioner or county clerk shall provide a credential as an election observer for each poll watcher for whom the election commissioner or county clerk receives notice of appointment under section 32-961. The election commissioner or county clerk may approve, as a credential, a name badge provided by the person who appointed the poll watcher if the name badge includes the name of the poll watcher and the name of the person or organization who appointed the poll watcher and if the name badge does not contain any campaign materials advocating a vote for or against any candidate, political party, or position on a ballot question.(2) For poll watchers eligible under subdivision (1)(a)(ii) of section 32-961, the Secretary of State shall provide the national or international election monitoring organization with the proper credentials for each poll watcher for whom the Secretary of State receives notice. The Secretary of State shall also notify the election commissioner or county clerk in each of the counties in which the poll workers would be observing, and the notice shall include the name of the organization, a list of the poll watchers, a description of the credential that will be worn by the poll watchers, and the plans of the organization for election day, including which counties and precincts the organization plans to observe.Source Laws 2020, LB1055, § 11.
NE Code § 32-963 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-963 - Poll watchers; display credential; sign register; authorized activities; protest conduct of election; ruling.

32-963.  Poll watchers; display credential; sign register; authorized activities; protest conduct of election; ruling.(1) Upon arrival at a polling place, a poll watcher shall display such poll watcher's credentials to the precinct inspector or precinct receiving board and sign the register of poll watchers. The election commissioner or county clerk shall provide a register at each precinct for poll watchers to sign. A poll watcher shall wear the approved credential with the poll watcher's name and the name of the person or organization who appointed the poll watcher while engaged in observing at a polling place.(2) Subject to section 32-1525, a poll watcher may be present during all proceedings at the polling place governed by the Election Act and may watch and observe the performance in and around the polling place of all duties under the act.(3) If a poll watcher or the person or organization who appointed the poll watcher wishes to protest any aspect of the conduct of the election, such poll watcher, person, or organization shall present such protest to the Secretary of State or to the election commissioner or county clerk of the applicable county. The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall rule on the issue within a reasonable amount of time relative to the issue presented.Source Laws 2020, LB1055, § 12.
NE Code § 32-1001 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1001 - Closing of polls; receiving board; duties.

32-1001.  Closing of polls; receiving board; duties.After the polls have closed, the precinct list of registered voters and the precinct sign-in register shall be signed by all members of the receiving board, the names of the registered voters shall be counted, and the number shall be recorded where designated on the list and the register. If a line is missed or a name is voided, the receiving board shall subtract such omissions or voids from the total before recording the total on the list and the register. The receiving board shall certify to all matters pertaining to casting of ballots and shall turn over the ballots, ballot boxes, list of registered voters, and sign-in register to the election commissioner or county clerk.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 295;  Laws 2007, LB646, § 9. Annotations A failure by the election officers of a precinct to sign the returns, as required by this section, does not invalidate the election. Wheelock v. Haney, 138 Neb. 547, 293 N.W. 418 (1940).
NE Code § 32-1003 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1003 - Votes counted; when.

32-1003.  Votes counted; when.All valid votes shall be counted. No ballot shall be rejected because the voter did not vote for every possible office or position.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 297. Annotations  A ballot marked other than as provided by law is not void unless marked for identification. Gauvreau v. Van Patten, 83 Neb. 64, 119 N.W. 11 (1908). A ballot is not necessarily invalid because the manner in which it is marked might serve to identify it. Mauck v. Brown, 59 Neb. 382, 81 N.W. 313 (1899). A ballot upon which the word Eagleham had been endorsed was within the clause of this section prohibiting the marking of ballots for identification and should have been rejected. Spurgin v. Thompson, 37 Neb. 39, 55 N.W. 297 (1893). All ballots intentionally marked for identification are void, but ballots otherwise valid are not invalid because they happen to have been marked in such a manner that they may be later distinguished from other ballots cast at the election. State ex rel. Waggoner v. Russell, 34 Neb. 116, 51 N.W. 465, 33 A.S.R. 625 (1892), 15 L.R.A. 740 (1892).
NE Code § 32-1004 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1004 - Overvote; rejection; when.

32-1004.  Overvote; rejection; when.If a ballot has been overvoted for any office, the ballot shall be rejected for that office only. No overvoted ballot shall be judged for voter intent by any member of the counting board or any official involved in the counting process.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 298;  Laws 2007, LB646, § 11.
NE Code § 32-1005 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1005 - Write-in vote; when valid.

32-1005.  Write-in vote; when valid.If the last name or a reasonably close spelling of the last name of a person engaged in or pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615 or 32-633 is written or printed on a line provided for that purpose and the square or oval opposite such line has been marked with a cross or other clear, intelligible mark, the vote shall be valid and the ballot shall be counted. A write-in vote for a person who is not engaged in or pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615 or 32-633 shall not be counted.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 299;  Laws 1999, LB 571, § 9;  Laws 2003, LB 358, § 31;  Laws 2013, LB349, § 4;  Laws 2021, LB285, § 16.   Effective Date: May 27, 2021
NE Code § 32-1007 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1007 - Ballots; write-in votes; improper name; rejected.

32-1007.  Ballots; write-in votes; improper name; rejected.If only the last name of a person is in the write-in space on the ballot and there is more than one person in the county having the same last name, the counting board shall reject the ballot for that office unless the last name is reasonably close to the proper spelling of the last name of a candidate engaged in or pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615. The counting board shall make the following notation on the rejected ballot: Rejected for the office of .........., no first or generally recognized name.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 301;  Laws 1999, LB 571, § 10;  Laws 2001, LB 252, § 3;  Laws 2003, LB 358, § 33;  Laws 2013, LB349, § 5;  Laws 2018, LB377, § 4;  Laws 2019, LB411, § 52.
NE Code § 32-1008 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1008 - Write-in votes; totals; how reported.

32-1008.  Write-in votes; totals; how reported.If the write-in vote in the county for a person pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615 or 32-633 totals less than five percent of the vote for such office in the county and the election commissioner or county clerk believes that such vote will not impact the outcome of the election, the number of write-in votes for that office may be counted and listed together as one total.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 302;  Laws 1999, LB 571, § 11;  Laws 2013, LB349, § 6;  Laws 2019, LB411, § 53.
NE Code § 32-1009 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1009 - Returns; when available.

32-1009.  Returns; when available.No returns or partial returns shall be released prior to the closing of the polls. Any or all available returns may be released after the polls close.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 303.
NE Code § 32-1010 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1010 - Ballots; where counted.

32-1010.  Ballots; where counted.Ballots shall be counted at a centralized location or at polling places as provided in sections 32-1012 to 32-1018. If counting takes place at a centralized location, the receiving board shall deliver the ballot box and other election materials to the centralized location as directed by the election commissioner or county clerk.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 304;  Laws 2007, LB646, § 12;  Laws 2019, LB411, § 54.
NE Code § 32-1012 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1012 - Centralized location; partial returns; when; designation of location; counting procedure.

32-1012.  Centralized location; partial returns; when; designation of location; counting procedure.(1) In counties using optical scanners to count the ballots at a centralized location, the election commissioner or county clerk may arrange to have partial returns delivered, properly locked or sealed, to the centralized location or locations at any time desired after the opening of the polls if at least twenty-five ballots have been cast since any prior delivery of ballots. The election commissioner or county clerk shall designate the location or locations for counting the ballots and may designate a location or locations in any county. Upon completion of the count, the ballots shall be conveyed under supervision of the election commissioner or county clerk to the office of such official. If for any reason it becomes impracticable to count all or a part of the ballots with optical scanners, the election commissioner or county clerk may direct that the ballots be counted manually following as closely as possible the provisions governing the manual counting of ballots.(2) In counties using optical scanners to count the ballots at polling places, the election commissioner or county clerk may arrange to have partial returns delivered, properly locked, sealed, or digitally secured, to the election office at any time desired after the opening of the polls if at least twenty-five ballots have been cast since any prior delivery of partial returns. The election commissioner or county clerk shall designate polling places as locations for counting the ballots. Upon completion of the count, the ballots shall be conveyed under supervision of the election commissioner or county clerk to the office of such official. If for any reason it becomes impracticable to count all or a part of the ballots with optical scanners, the election commissioner or county clerk may direct that the ballots be counted manually following as closely as possible the provisions governing the manual counting of ballots.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 306;  Laws 2003, LB 358, § 34;  Laws 2019, LB411, § 55.
NE Code § 32-1013 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1013 - Counting location; watchers; counting board members; oath; authorized observers.

32-1013.  Counting location; watchers; counting board members; oath; authorized observers.(1) In each counting location, watchers may be appointed to be present and observe the counting of ballots. Each political party shall be entitled to one watcher at each location appointed and supplied with credentials by the county central committee of such political party. The district court having jurisdiction over any such county may appoint additional watchers for any location.(2) The watchers and the members of the counting board shall take the following oath administered by the election commissioner or county clerk or an election official designated by the election commissioner or county clerk: I do solemnly swear that I will not in any manner make known to anyone other than duly authorized election officials the results of the votes as they are being counted until the polls have officially closed and the summary of votes cast is delivered to the election commissioner or county clerk.(3) Except for polling places using precinct-based optical scanners, all other persons shall be excluded from the place where the counting is being conducted except for observers authorized by the election commissioner or county clerk. No such observer shall be connected with any candidate, political party, or measure on the ballot.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 307;  Laws 2019, LB411, § 56.
NE Code § 32-1015 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1015 - Centralized location; resolution board; designation; duties.

32-1015.  Centralized location; resolution board; designation; duties.The election commissioner or county clerk shall designate at least two members of the counting board to act as a resolution board to resolve questions as to the legality of votes to be counted. The members of the resolution board shall be of equal number from different political parties. Any issue as to the legality of a vote shall be resolved unanimously by the resolution board. If a unanimous decision cannot be obtained, the ballot shall be rejected as to the vote in question.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 309.
NE Code § 32-1016 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1016 - Centralized location; damaged or defective ballots; how treated.

32-1016.  Centralized location; damaged or defective ballots; how treated.If any ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the vote counting device, the resolution board shall make a true duplicate copy and substitute the copy for the damaged or defective ballot. All duplicate ballots shall be clearly labeled duplicate, and all damaged or defective ballots shall be clearly labeled damaged or defective. Each pair of duplicate and damaged or defective ballots shall bear a similar serial number or some form of identification so that both the damaged or defective and duplicate ballots can be matched to facilitate recounts or any inspection of the ballots. The resolution board shall maintain the secrecy of the damaged or defective ballots as much as possible and shall cause the damaged or defective ballots to be made up in a sealed packet. The resolution board shall endorse the packet with the words Damaged or Defective Ballots and the designation of the precinct. The resolution board shall sign the endorsement label and place the sealed packet in the ballots-cast container with the voted ballots as provided in section 32-1017.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 310;   Laws 1997, LB 764, § 98.
NE Code § 32-1017 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1017 - Centralized location; ballots-cast container; Rejected Ballots envelope; summary of votes cast.

32-1017.  Centralized location; ballots-cast container; Rejected Ballots envelope; summary of votes cast.(1) Upon completion of the counting of votes, the counting board shall place all voted ballots in the ballots-cast container. Rejected ballots shall be placed in the envelope designated Rejected Ballots, and the envelope shall be sealed and placed in the ballots-cast container with the voted ballots. The ballots-cast container shall then be sealed.(2) The counting board shall prepare a summary of the votes cast and deliver the summary to the election commissioner or county clerk. When write-in votes are totaled in accordance with section 32-1008, the write-in votes shall be totaled as an aggregate for any such office. The election commissioner or county clerk shall release unofficial returns from the summary.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 311.
NE Code § 32-1018 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1018 - Centralized location; vote counting devices; sealing and storage; reuse.

32-1018.  Centralized location; vote counting devices; sealing and storage; reuse.All tapes, programming boards, and other materials used with vote counting devices for the election shall be sealed and stored with the ballots and election materials for that election for the amount of time required by law. Programming boards may be reused after six months have elapsed following an election in which they were used.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 312.
NE Code § 32-1028 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1028 - County canvassing board; appointment.

32-1028.  County canvassing board; appointment.The election commissioner or county clerk shall appoint two or more registered voters to constitute a county canvassing board. The election commissioner or county clerk shall be a member of the county canvassing board. One registered voter shall be appointed from the political party casting the highest number of votes for Governor or for President of the United States in the county in the immediately preceding general election, and one registered voter shall be appointed from the political party casting the next highest number of votes for such office. The election commissioner or county clerk may appoint additional registered voters to serve on the county canvassing board and may appoint registered voters to serve in case of a vacancy among any of the members of the county canvassing board. Such appointees shall be balanced between the political parties and may include registered voters unaffiliated with any political party.Source  Laws 1994, LB 76, § 322.
NE Code § 32-1030 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 32 - Elections|32-1030 - Early voting materials; treatment.

32-1030.  Early voting materials; treatment.All identification envelopes, voted ballots, and rejected ballots and the Rejected Ballots container shall be placed in the container for early voting materials, and the container shall be sealed.Source   Laws 1994, LB 76, § 324;  Laws 2005, LB 98, § 27.