Decision Time

Area voters are already casting their ballots

HARTINGTON — With just under a week left before the General Election, 42 percent of Cedar County voters have already cast their ballots.

Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit said as of Monday afternoon, she had received 2,371 ballots.

As of press time Tuesday, Schmit did not yet have specific numbers as to how many Republicans, Democrats or Nonpartisan voters had already voted.

Cedar County is heavily Republican as 70.6 percent of the county's registered voters are Republican. Cedar County Democrats comprise 15.4 percent of the electorate here, while 13 percent of the county's voters are registered as Nonpartisan.

Libertarian, Legal Marijuana NOW, No Labels Nebraska combine to make up the remaining 1 percent of Cedar County's voters.

Hartington-Newcastle school patrons can choose between four candidates for three open spots on the school board. Incumbents Jason Heikes and Aaron Fuelberth are both seeking another term on the board, while Dana Rosener decided not to seek re-election.

Political newcomers Brett Wiedenfeld and Brice Grutsch are also seeking a four-year term on the board.

Hartington City Council incumbents Roman Sudbeck and Chris Bartling are running unopposed for four-year terms on the the local board.

Besides the national and local races, Cedar County voters also have the opportunity to vote on Keno for the county.

Randolph area residents will be voting on a $9.75 million school improvement bond.

As of this Tuesday morning, statewide county election offices have sent 363,629 early voting ballots to Nebraska voters. County election offices have received and accepted 249,235 early voting ballots. That includes 46,459 early ballots from Nebraskans who have voted early in person at county election offices, said Secretary of State Bob Evnen.