County Clerk mails "I'm Voting" information for 2019 election

The Douglas County Clerk’s office has mailed more than 66,000 informational brochures and advance voting applications to voters ahead of the Nov. 5 City/School General Election. The informational mailers will start arriving in mailboxes of active registered voters the week of Sept. 23.

Each mailer has information about voting in the upcoming election and a request for a mail advance ballot which voters can return to the Douglas County Clerk’s office. The request for advance ballot must be returned by Oct. 15. It also can be returned as a scanned document, via fax or through the mail.    

The 2017 election was the first time the “I’m Voting” mailer was used in a local election and it resulted in an increased turnout. From 2007 to 2015, the average turnout for local elections in Douglas County was 12,608 voters and 15.96% turnout. The 2017 election had 17,389 voters with a 23.48% turnout. Advance voting in 2017 increased from an average of 1,273 voters to 5,589 voters, which accounted for the increased turnout. County Clerk Jamie Shew said, “We expanded the mailer to local elections to increase awareness of these important elections and it was extremely successful. It is always exciting to see an initiative have an impact on participation.”   

The Douglas County Clerk’s office is also encouraging use of “I’m Voting” signs and social media messages for the local elections. “We encourage anyone who has an ‘I’m Voting’ sign or poster from the last election to display it again for the local elections,” Shew said.

Anyone interested in getting “I’m Voting” signs can stop by the Clerk’s office at 1100 Massachusetts Street, contact the office at 832-5267 or email elections@dgcoks.gov. Additionally, the Clerk’s office is encouraging voters to share pictures with the “I’m Voting” signs and posters on social media. The office is hoping voters get creative, showcase Douglas County, and share the message through multiple social media platforms.