Bellevue voters are choosing a mayor and city council members on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as Nebraska and Iowa hold their 2026 elections. Voting begins at 7 a.m. in Iowa and 8 a.m. in Nebraska. Both states close their polls at 8 p.m., but election commissioners say anyone waiting in line by that time will be permitted to vote.
The 8 p.m. deadline also applies to mail-in ballots. Voters returning those ballots must place them in an official drop box before the deadline and sign the envelope for their votes to count. Registration deadlines have passed in both states.
Nebraska’s ballot includes contests for governor, U.S. senator and U.S. representatives, along with the Board of Regents, state treasurer, state auditor and a new secretary of state. Half of the seats in the state Legislature are also up for election. A state amendment and several initiatives address legislative term limits, sports betting and gender qualifications for athletes.
In Sarpy County, voters will select a county attorney, assessor, treasurer and clerk, and decide whether several judges should remain in office. City council seats are on the ballot in Bellevue, La Vista, Gretna and Papillion. Papillion, like Bellevue, also has a mayoral election.
Douglas County races include county attorney, county clerk and county commissioner seats in even-numbered districts. Other local decisions involve mayors, city councils, school boards, utility districts and the retention of about 15 judges. Valley has city council elections, while Omaha voters will consider two bond proposals.
Voters are being encouraged to verify their polling locations because assignments can change between elections. In Council Bluffs, voters in the first precinct were notified last week that a water main break had forced a relocation. Instead of voting at Northwest Christian Church on Benson Street, they should go to Queen of Apostles Church on Fourth Avenue.
Douglas County residents can check polling places, political districts and sample ballots through the Election Commission website or call 402-444-8683 during business hours. Sarpy County provides that information through its county website and offers assistance at 402-593-2167. Pottawattamie County voters can consult the county auditor’s office website or call 712-328-5700 for polling location and ballot information.
Nebraska requires a valid photo ID before voting. Accepted documents include a Nebraska driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport, military or tribal identification, and IDs issued by Nebraska political subdivisions, including state, county, city and school entities. Nebraska public and private college or university IDs are also accepted, as are records from hospitals, intermediate care facilities, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes.
People without a valid photo ID can obtain one free from the Nebraska DMV, although an official birth certificate is required. The Department of Health and Human Services can help those who need a birth certificate copy to obtain identification. Iowa also requires voter identification, and its secretary of state provides answers to frequently asked questions online.
