LINCOLN- Coming into the 2020 Nebraska Primary, Secretary of State Bob Evnen predicted that 35% of all Nebraska voters would turn up at the polls. However, when the dust had settled and the votes were counted, that number sat closer to 28%. While seemingly low, said Evnen, that number is actually right on track.

"The turnout this year exceeded the turnout of 4 of the 5 last presidential primaries," he said, "The one primary that was higher was in 2020 in the midst of COVID." The increased focus on elections seen in 2020 and 2022 seems to be slowing down in 2024. 2020 saw 40% of voters show up to cast a vote in the primary election, up significantly from the 2000-2016 average of 25.7%.

So, while the state's turnout was lower than predicted, it was still higher than the average. "I think, especially for the elections in Nebraska, they were just not very competitive," said UNO Political Science Professor Gregory Petrow. Although several of the state's incumbent Republicans faced contentious challengers, many of those in opposition were lesser-known populist Republicans that Petrow believes voters weren't familiar with.

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