This is the second in a four-part series on voter education information from the Seward County Clerk.
Aside from myths about early voting, keeping accurate records of who is registered to vote – and who is still living and able to vote – is a primary function of the county clerk’s office.
In Seward County, the clerk also serves as the election commissioner.
Sherry Schweitzer has served in this elected position for the past 25 years.
“Keeping the voter list accurate and up-to-date is one of the most important things to do as an election commissioner,” Schweitzer said. “It’s also the hardest thing to do.”
Society, she said, is much more mobile than it used to be. With every move comes a lengthy list of places at which to change one’s address – the post office, utility office, doctor’s office, magazine subscriptions...the list goes on, but it should include one’s voter registration.
“I’ve been told that the average times a person moves in their lifetime is 11,” Schweitzer said. “Think of yourself – how many times have you moved since you were 18? Each time you moved, with all the details that moving takes, have you always remembered to change your voter registration?”
Even local moves, such as to the other side of town (or even the opposite side of the block) could put a voter in a different ward, meaning their registration needs updated.
This week, Schweitzer addressed five myths concerning voter registration lists.
Voter registration myths
1. There are dead people “voting” because their name is still on the list of registered voters.
“We try to keep our voter registration list as accurate as possible,” Schweitzer said. “We search the obituaries in the newspapers. We receive information from the Nebraska Health and Human Services office, which matches death certificates with Nebraska registered voters. We go to the internet to see if we can find anything about a person we suspect has passed.”
In Seward County, Schweitzer said, she is unaware of any instance when someone has tried to impersonate a deceased person in order to vote.
“Remember, the poll workers are people in your precinct and know about their neighbors,” she said.
2. The list is old and inaccurate – people who have moved away years ago are still listed.
The law requires the clerk’s office to obtain a list of people who have moved from the post office every two years.
“We realize people are more mobile than they used to be, so we do it every six months,” Schweitzer said.
Those who have moved receive a postcard from the clerk’s office that they should return to verify the move. The clerk’s office pays the postage to keep it simple.
“Even though we make it easy for the voter to do this, we only get an average of 40% of the cards back,” Schweitzer said. “By law, if my office does not receive anything back, their names must remain on the registration list for four years.”
If the person doesn’t vote or update their registration within those four years, their name is then removed.
“If you see someone’s name on the list that has moved away, they probably did not return the postcard and I cannot take their name off the list,” Schweitzer said.
3. Names of voters are taken off the list for no reason.
“I cannot take a name off the voter’s list without some type of written notification,” Schweitzer said.
Forms of notification can include receiving a returned postcard to verify a move, finding an obituary in the newspaper or someone personally stopping by the clerk’s office to fill out a form verifying a move.
“A name is not arbitrarily taken off the list. You cannot call my office and say you moved – I need something in writing,” Schweitzer said.
4. A person has to register every time there is an election in order to vote.
False. The only time a person needs to re-register to vote is if they have moved, changed their name or wish to change their political party.
5. A person’s name is not on the voter registration list because they did not vote in the last election.
Also false, Schweitzer said.
“You do not have to vote in each election to remain on the list,” she said. “Call our office if you have a question about your voter registration.”
The county clerk’s office may be reached at (402) 643-2883.
