LINCOLN- Nebraska’s voters, and election officials, are about to enter new territory.

Because of the impending resignation of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, voters in eastern Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District will be asked to vote in three elections in 2022 concerning the post-Fortenberry is vacating. The three are the May primary, a special election in June, and the general election in November.

It’s possible that the two perceived front-runners for the Republican and Democratic nominations, State Sen. Mike Flood for the GOP and State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks for the Democrats, could face off in both the special election and the general election.

If the special election is held, as is assumed, in the last week of June, the special election candidates would need to be picked 65 days before that date, under state law, to be printed on the ballot. That puts the pick before April 25. Gov. Pete Ricketts will pick the date of the special election, which must be held within 90 days of when the March 31 vacancy occurs.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen said he is not aware of any other instance in the state’s history in which a congressional representative resigned amid a criminal conviction, thus requiring a special election.

Logistically, Evnen said, holding three major elections in a year will be a challenge. But he said that election officials will be up to the task.

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