Primary election set for May 12; early, in-person voting begins April 13

Perkins County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, May 12, for Nebraska’s 2026 primary election, with federal, state and local races on the ballot. Early in-person voting is scheduled to begin April 13.

 The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is April 27, while in-person registration will remain open through May 1.

According to Perkins County Clerk James Brueggeman, ballots are currently being finalized and will be published in the coming weeks as required by state statute.

At the federal level, voters will select candidates for U.S. Senate and Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District. Statewide races on the ballot include governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general and auditor of public accounts.

Locally, the primary ballot will include a contested race for Perkins County Commissioner District 2, with incumbent Mark W. Bottom and challenger Leon D. Pankonin, both Republicans, seeking the nomination.

Nonpartisan races will include seats for Nebraska Legislature Districts 42 and 44, State Board of Education District 7, and the Perkins County Hospital District Board, where four candidates are running for three positions. 

Those candidates include incumbents Marcia Shalla, Jeffrey D. Skeels and Melissa K. Wilson, along with challenger Lori Day.

Voters will also consider ballot questions for the Madrid and Big Springs cemetery districts, which are seeking approval to levy a property tax.

Several local races will not appear on the primary ballot and will instead advance directly to the November general election due to a lack of opposition. 

These include races for City of Grant mayor and city council, multiple county offices, school board and natural resources district positions.

Voters can find a full list of state candidates at the Nebraska Secretary of State’s website. 

Additional local ballot information will to be published by the county ahead of the election, and the Grant Tribune-Sentinel will be printing candidate spotlights in future editions.