Aaron Sanderford recaps a roller coaster election day in Nebraska including Biden's win in the 2nd district.
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s Republican governor, secretary of state, chief deputy attorney general, treasurer and auditor certified the state’s 2020 election results Monday without the drama seen in several battleground states.
The 5-0 vote certification decided which presidential electors will be needed for the state’s Dec. 14 Electoral College vote. It also finalized all but one natural resources district race, which is headed for a recount because the winner and loser are separated by a single vote.
Nebraska, like Maine, divides its Electoral College vote by congressional district, awarding one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each of its three congressional districts. The statewide winner secures Nebraska’s two additional electoral votes.
This year, that means outgoing President Donald Trump won four electoral votes, statewide and from the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. President-elect Joe Biden won one from the Omaha area’s 2nd Congressional District, turning Douglas and western Sarpy County blue.
Gov. Pete Ricketts, in an interview after the meeting, reiterated his support for Nebraska switching back to awarding all five of its Electoral College votes to the winner of the statewide popular vote, an outcome almost certain to award all five to the Republican nominee.
He said he would not request that such legislation be introduced but said he would support it if it crossed his desk. He said it would be “more fair to our voters in the state.”
The lone race still to recount is for the Subdistrict 5 seat on the Wahoo-based Lower Platte North NRD board, with David Lawrence at 9,821 votes and John Hannah at 9,820. Candidates in a handful of other close races signed affidavits accepting their results.
In the end, the noon-hour meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Canvassers was as uneventful as the state’s coronavirus-affected general election, in which mail-in voting was popular, in-person voting was staffed and few polling places were consolidated.
More than 960,000 Nebraskans cast ballots in the 2020 presidential general election, setting an expected record in the total number of votes cast as the state’s population grows.
But doing so during a pandemic and keeping turnout at roughly three out of four registered voters was a point of pride for Secretary of State Bob Evnen and his elections team.
“I think it just goes to the great system we have here in Nebraska,” Ricketts said. “This has all gone very, very well.”
The Secretary of State’s Office and several of the state’s most populous counties made sure every voter received a request form for a ballot by mail, and the state secured masks and disinfectant for in-person voting.
Evnen said after the meeting that his office had received no significant allegations of fraud.Photos: Our best staff images from November 2020
Photos: Our best staff images from November 2020
Olivia Noonan, 3, of Omaha, looks up at Santa outside Mulhall's in Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. Reindeer Dasher and Dancer will be available to see through Dec. 19 at the garden and home store.
Iowa's Zach VanValkenburg catches a fumble from Nebraska's Adrian Martinez after he was sacked by Iowa's Chauncey Golston.
Iowa's Terry Roberts celebrates recovering a fumble from Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt.
A photo of Nathan Pastrana, left and Ryan Helbert sit in memorial across the street to the south of the Sonic at 1307 Cornhusker Rd, on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. A shooting on November 21st killed Pastrana, 22, and Helbert, 28, while Zoey Lujan, 18, and Kenneth Gerner, 25, suffered critical injuries.
Ring billed gulls try to stay dry on the dock at Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
The sun rises behind downtown Omaha on Friday, November 20, 2020.
Ord fans cheer on their team as they play in the Class C2 championship game against Bergan.
Protesters gather for the second night outside the Omaha Police Department headquarters in downtown Omaha on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Kenneth Jones, a Black man, was shot and killed by an officer after a traffic stop on Thursday night.
Nebraska’s Cam Taylor-Britt hits Illinois’s Chase Brown after a first quarter run. Taylor-Britt would leave the game with an injury.
Ord players react as their Class C2 championship trophy is handed to them after defeating Bergan.
Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton (9) hugs and lifts head coach Brett Froendt following the Elkhorn South vs. Omaha Westside Class A football state championship game at Omaha Westside High School on Friday, November 20, 2020. Omaha Westside won the title 37-21.
Illinois's Josh Imatorbhebhe catches a second-quarter touchdown pass over Dicaprio Bootle to give them a 21-7 lead.
Aurora's Aaron Jividen, right, comforts Jameson Herzberg after the lost the Class B state title to Elkhorn.
The 2020 "Christmas at Union Station" tree is brought inside the Durham Museum in Omaha on Monday.
Nebraska kicks off to Penn State after a second-quarter touchdown to a nearly empty Memorial Stadium due to the pandemic.
Penn State's Will Levis is taken down by Nebraska's Ben Stille on the final down for the Penn State offense during their game Saturday in Lincoln.
Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey, left, and Head Coach Scott Frost, right celebrate their win over Penn State.
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt and Penn State's Jahan Dotson both go up for the ball in the end zone during their game on Saturday in Lincoln. The pass was incomplete.
Nebraska runs out of the field after the tunnel walk before they play Penn State.
Everyone tries to keep up with Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.
Flags of the five military branches are flown during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dean Mathisen looks at memorials before the start of Veterans Days ceremonies at Memorial Park on Wednesday.
A woman waves from her car during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey is shoved out of bounds by Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore during their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks on to the field with his team fir the start of their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Northwestern's Peyton Ramsey is hit by Nebraska's Luke Reimer and fumbles the ball during their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Isaiah Ross waves a Biden for President flag during a celebration at 72nd and Dodge Streets on Saturday.
A worker disinfects the seats inside Pinnacle Bank Arena between state volleyball matches on Friday, November 06, 2020.
Bellevue West wide receiver Keegan Johnson runs the ball with Kearney defensive back Tanner Johnson on his heels.
Omaha Skutt's Abigail Schomers celebrates a point against against Ashland Greenwood.
People eat lunch under a tree bearing bright autumn leaves at Miller Park in North Omaha on Thursday, November 5, 2020.
The sun sets near Bancroft Elementary School in southeast Omaha. The sun is going down a minute earlier every day, and this evening it will do so at 5:14.
Belleue West players celebrate a point against Papio South.
Derek Rau and his service dog Voodoo walk to a polling booth in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Alayna Gonzalez, 8 months, sits with her dad, Hector Gonzalez, of Omaha, while waiting for her mom, Ana Gayton (not pictured), to finish voting so he can take his turn at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Voters occupy all the booths inside Bethel Lutheran Church, 1312 S. 45th St., on Tuesday. There were close to 30 people in line when the doors opened.
A person votes at the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Volunteer Jay Mason throws way political signs that were too close to the polling place at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.
Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Sidewalk chalk messages at 13th and Bancroft Streets in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Rep. Don Bacon greeted drivers at 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion.
A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
The line for early voting wraps back and forth at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020.
Rep. Don Bacon leaves a brochure while campaigning door-to-door in Papillion on Friday.
Democrat Kara Eastman keeps an Election Day countdown in the front room of her campaign office at 72nd and Farnam Streets.
Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
aaron.sanderford@owh.com, 402-444-1135
