(Ne) Election officials readying for record vote

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10439391

Published Monday September 22, 2008
Election officials readying for record vote
BY TOM SHAW
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Election officials in Nebraska's three largest counties are gearing up for what could be a record voter turnout this fall.

They expect more early voting this year, they plan to staff polling places with extra workers and they are printing extra ballots for Election Day.

Driving the interest is the historic presidential campaign pitting John McCain and Sarah Palin against Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Voting kicks off Sept. 29, when election offices in Nebraska begin mailing early ballots to those who have requested them. That's also the starting date to vote in person at local election offices.

Already, requests for early ballots - formerly called absentee ballots - are up in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster Counties.

In Douglas County, Election Commissioner Dave Phipps expects as many as 45,000 people to vote early, compared with the 21,000 who voted early in 2004.

FULL story at link.