2-3213 (1) Except as provided in subsections (2), and (3), and (4) of this section, each district shall be governed by a board of directors of five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen, seventeen, nineteen, or twenty-one members. The board of directors shall determine the number of directors and in making such determination shall consider the complexity of the foreseeable programs and the population and land area of the district. Districts shall be political subdivisions of the state, shall have perpetual succession, and may sue and be sued in the name of the district.

(2) Except as provided by subsection (7) of this section, at At least six months prior to the primary election, the board of directors of any natural resources district may change the number of directors for the district and may change subdistrict boundaries to accommodate the increase or decrease in the number of directors.

(3) The board of directors shall utilize the criteria found in subsection (1) of this section and in subsection (2) of section 2-3214 when changing the number of directors. Except as provided in subsection (6) (5) of this section, no director's term of office shall be shortened as a result of any change in the number of directors. Any reduction in the number of directors shall be made as directors take office during the two succeeding elections or more quickly if the reduction can be made by not filling vacancies on the board and if desired by the board. If necessary to preserve staggered terms for directors when the reduction in number is made in whole or in part through unfilled vacancies, the board may provide for a one-time election of one or more directors for a two- year term. The board of directors shall inform the Secretary of State whenever any such one-time elections have been approved. Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the district may be governed by an even number of directors during the two-year transition to a board of reduced number.

(4) (3) Whenever any change of boundaries, division, or merger results in a natural resources district director residing in a district other than the one to which such director was elected to serve, such director shall automatically become a director of the board of the district in which he or she then resides. Except as provided in subsection (6) (5) of this section, all such directors shall continue to serve in office until the expiration of the term of office for which they were elected. Directors or supervisors of other special-purpose districts merged into a natural resources district shall not become members of the natural resources district board but may be appointed as advisors in accordance with section 2-3228. No later than six months after any change, division, or merger, each affected board, in accordance with the procedures and criteria found in this section and section 2-3214, shall determine the number of directors for the district as it then exists, the option chosen for nomination and election of directors, and, if appropriate, new subdistrict boundaries.

(5) (4) To facilitate the task of administration of any board increased in size by a change of boundaries or merger, such board may appoint an executive committee to conduct the business of the board in the interim until board size reductions can be made in accordance with this section. An executive committee shall be empowered to act for the full board in all matters within its purview unless specifically limited by the board in the establishment and appointment of the executive committee.

(6) (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2-3214 and subsections (3) and (4) and (5) of this section, the board of directors of any natural resources district established by merging two or more districts in their entirety may provide that all directors be nominated and elected at the first primary and general elections following the year in which such merger becomes effective. In districts which have one director elected from each subdistrict, each director elected from an even-numbered subdistrict shall be elected for a two-year term and each director from an odd-numbered district and any member to be elected at large shall be elected for a four-year term. In districts which have two directors elected from each subdistrict, the four candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the primary election shall be carried over to the general election, and at such general election the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a four-year term and the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall be elected for a two-year term. Thereafter each director shall be elected for a four-year term.

(7) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, any natural resources district that will have a change to the number of directors as a result of any adjustment to the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the board of directors and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the natural resources district by December 30, 2021.

2-3214 (1) District directors shall be elected as provided in section 32-513. Elections shall be conducted as provided in the Election Act. Registered voters residing within the district shall be eligible for nomination as candidates for any at-large position or, in those districts that have established subdistricts, as candidates from the subdistrict within which they reside.

(2) The board of directors may choose to: (a) Nominate candidates from subdistricts and from the district at large who shall be elected by the registered voters of the entire district; (b) nominate and elect each candidate from the district at large; or (c) nominate and elect candidates from subdistricts of substantially equal population except that any at-large candidate would be nominated and elected by the registered voters of the entire district. Unless the board of directors determines that the nomination and election of all directors will be at large, the board shall strive to divide the district into subdistricts of substantially equal population, except that no subdistrict shall have a population greater than three times the population of any other subdistrict within the district. Such subdistricts shall be consecutively numbered and shall be established with due regard to all factors including, but not limited to, the location of works of improvement and the distribution of population and taxable values within the district. Except as provided by subsection (7) of this section, the The boundaries and numbering of such subdistricts shall be designated at least six months prior to the primary election. Unless the district has been divided into subdistricts with substantially equal population, all directors shall be elected by the registered voters of the entire district and all registered voters shall vote on the candidates representing each subdistrict and any at-large candidates. If a district has been divided into subdistricts with substantially equal population, the board of directors may determine that directors shall be elected only by the registered voters of the subdistrict except that an at-large director may be elected by registered voters of the entire district.

(3) Except in districts which have chosen to have a single director serve from each subdistrict, the number of subdistricts for a district shall equal a number which is one less than a majority of directors for the district. In districts which have chosen to have a single director serve from each subdistrict, the number of subdistricts shall equal a number which is equal to the total number of directors of the district or which is one less than the total number of directors for the district if there is an at-large candidate. If the number of directors to be elected exceeds the number of subdistricts or if the term of the at-large director expires in districts which have chosen to have a single director serve from each subdistrict, candidates may file as a candidate from the district at large. Registered voters may each cast a number of votes not larger than the total number of directors to be elected.

(4) Elected directors shall take their oath of office in the same manner provided for county officials.

(5) At least six months prior to the primary election, the board of directors may choose to have a single director serve from each subdistrict.

(6) The board of directors shall certify to the Secretary of State and the election commissioners or county clerks the number of directors to be elected at each election and the length of their terms as provided in section 32-404.

(7) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, any board of directors requesting the adjustment of the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the board and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the natural resources district by December 30, 2021.

16-404 (1) All ordinances and resolutions or orders for the appropriation or payment of money in a city of the first class shall require for their passage or adoption the concurrence of a majority of all members elected to the city council. The mayor may vote on any such matter when his or her vote will provide the additional vote required to create a number of votes equal to a majority of the number of members elected to the city council, and the mayor shall, for the purpose of such vote, be deemed to be a member of the city council.

(2)(a) (2) Ordinances of a general or permanent nature in a city of the first class shall be read by title on three different days unless three-fourths of the city council members vote to suspend this requirement, except that in a city having a commission plan of government such requirement may be suspended by a three-fifths majority vote.

(b) Regardless of the form of government, such requirement shall not be suspended for any ordinance for the annexation of territory or the redrawing of boundaries for city council election districts or wards except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(c) In case such requirement is suspended, the ordinances shall be read by title or number and then moved for final passage.

(d) Three-fourths of the city council members may require a reading of any such ordinance in full before enactment under either procedure set out in this section, except that in a city having a commission plan of government, such reading may be required by a three-fifths majority vote.

(3) Ordinances in a city of the first class shall contain no subject which is not clearly expressed in the title, and, except as provided in section 19-915, no ordinance or section thereof shall be revised or amended unless the new ordinance contains the entire ordinance or section as revised or amended and the ordinance or section so amended is repealed, except that:

(a) For an ordinance revising all the ordinances of a city of the first class, the only title necessary shall be An ordinance of the city of .......... , revising all the ordinances of the city. Under such title all the ordinances may be revised in sections and chapters or otherwise, may be corrected, added to, and any part suppressed, and may be repealed with or without a saving clause as to the whole or any part without other title; and

(b) For an ordinance used solely to revise ordinances or code sections or to enact new ordinances or code sections in order to adopt statutory changes made by the Legislature which are specific and mandatory and bring the ordinances or code sections into conformance with state law, the title need only state that the ordinance revises those ordinances or code sections affected by or enacts ordinances or code sections generated by legislative changes. Under such title, all such ordinances or code sections may be revised, repealed, or enacted in sections and chapters or otherwise by a single ordinance without other title.

(4) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, the city council of any city of the first class requesting the adjustment of the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the requesting city council and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the city by December 30, 2021. The revised election district boundary map shall be adopted by ordinance. Such ordinance shall be read by title on three different days unless three-fourths of the city council members vote to suspend this requirement.

17-614 (1)(a) (1) All ordinances and resolutions or orders for the appropriation or payment of money shall require for their passage or adoption the concurrence of a majority of all members elected to the city council in a city of the second class or village board of trustees. The mayor of a city of the second class may vote when his or her vote would provide the additional vote required to attain the number of votes equal to a majority of the number of members elected to the city council, and the mayor shall, for the purpose of such vote, be deemed to be a member of the city council.

(b) Ordinances of a general or permanent nature shall be read by title on three different days unless three-fourths of the city council or village board of trustees vote to suspend this requirement. Such , except that such requirement shall not be suspended for any ordinance for the annexation of territory or the redrawing of boundaries for city council or village board of trustees election districts or wards except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(c) In case such requirement is suspended, the ordinances shall be read by title and then moved for final passage.

(d) Three-fourths of the city council or village board of trustees may require a reading of any such ordinance in full before enactment under either procedure set out in this section.

(2) Ordinances shall contain no subject which is not clearly expressed in the title, and, except as provided in section 19-915, no ordinance or section of such ordinance shall be revised or amended unless the new ordinance contains the entire ordinance or section as revised or amended and the ordinance or section so amended is repealed, except that:

(a) For an ordinance revising all the ordinances of the city of the second class or village, the title need only state that the ordinance revises all the ordinances of the city or village. Under such title all the ordinances may be revised in sections and chapters or otherwise, may be corrected, added to, and any part suppressed, and may be repealed with or without a saving clause as to the whole or any part without other title; and

(b) For an ordinance used solely to revise ordinances or code sections or to enact new ordinances or code sections in order to adopt statutory changes made by the Legislature which are specific and mandatory and bring the ordinances or code sections into conformance with state law, the title need only state that the ordinance revises those ordinances or code sections affected by or enacts ordinances or code sections generated by legislative changes. Under such title, all such ordinances or code sections may be revised, repealed, or enacted in sections and chapters or otherwise by a single ordinance without other title.

(3) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, the city council of any city of the second class or village board of trustees requesting the adjustment of the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the requesting city council or village board of trustees and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the city or village by December 30, 2021. The revised election district boundary map shall be adopted by ordinance. Such ordinance shall be read by title on three different days unless three-fourths of the members of the city council or village board of trustees vote to suspend this requirement.

32-329 (1) The Secretary of State with the assistance of the election commissioners and county clerks shall perform list maintenance with respect to the computerized statewide voter registration list on a regular basis. The list maintenance shall be conducted in a manner that ensures that:

(a) The name of each registered voter appears in the computerized list;

(b) Only persons who have been entered into the register in error or who are not eligible to vote are removed from the computerized list; and

(c) Duplicate names are eliminated from the computerized list.

(2) The election commissioner or county clerk shall verify the voter registration register by using (a) the National Change of Address program of the United States Postal Service and a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection (3) of this section or (b) the biennial mailing of a nonforwardable notice to each registered voter. The Secretary of State shall provide biennial training for the election commissioners and county clerks responsible for maintaining voter registration lists. No name shall be removed from the voter registration register for the sole reason that such person has not voted for any length of time.

(3) When an election commissioner or county clerk receives information from the National Change of Address program of the United States Postal Service that a registered voter has moved from the address at which he or she is registered to vote, the election commissioner or county clerk shall update the voter registration register to indicate that the voter may have moved and mail a confirmation notice by forwardable first-class mail. If a nonforwardable notice under subdivision (2)(b) of this section is returned as undeliverable, the election commissioner or county clerk shall mail a confirmation notice by forwardable first-class mail. The confirmation notice shall include a confirmation letter and a preaddressed, postage-paid confirmation card. The confirmation letter shall contain statements substantially as follows:

(a) The election commissioner or county clerk has received information that you have moved to a different residence address from that appearing on the voter registration register;

(b) If you have not moved or you have moved to a new residence within this county, you should return the enclosed confirmation card by the regular registration deadline prescribed in section 32-302. If you fail to return the card by the deadline, you will be required to affirm or confirm your address prior to being allowed to vote. If you are required to affirm or confirm your address, it may result in a delay at your polling place; and

(c) If you have moved out of the county, you must reregister to be eligible to vote. This can be accomplished by mail or in person. For further information, contact your local election commissioner or county clerk.

(4) The election commissioner or county clerk shall maintain for a period of not less than two years a record of each confirmation letter indicating the date it was mailed and the person to whom it was mailed.

(5) If information from the National Change of Address program or the nonforwardable notice under subdivision (2)(b) of this section indicates that the voter has moved outside the jurisdiction and the election commissioner or county clerk receives no response to the confirmation letter and the voter does not offer to vote at any election held prior to and including the second statewide federal general election following the mailing of the confirmation notice, the voter's registration shall be canceled and his or her name shall be deleted from the voter registration register.

(6)(a) In the event that the Secretary of State becomes a member of a nongovernmental entity whose sole purpose is to share and exchange information in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of voter registration systems, information received by the Secretary of State from such nongovernmental entity is exempt from disclosure as a public record pursuant to sections 84-712 to 84-712.09 and any other provision of law, except that the Secretary of State may provide such information to the election commissioners and county clerks to conduct voter registration list maintenance activities.

(b) If the Secretary of State becomes a member of a nongovernmental entity as described in subdivision (6)(a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall submit an annual report electronically to the Clerk of the Legislature by February 1 encompassing the preceding calendar year. The report shall describe the terms of membership in the nongovernmental entity and provide information on the total number of voters removed from the voter registration register as a result of information received by such membership and the reasons for the removal of such voters.

32-330 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of section 32-301, the voter registration register shall be a public record. Any person may examine the register at the office of the election commissioner or county clerk, but no person other than the Secretary of State, the election commissioner, the county clerk, or law enforcement shall be allowed to make copies of the register. Copies of the register shall only be used for list maintenance as provided in section 32-329 or law enforcement purposes. The electronic records of the original voter registrations created pursuant to section 32-301 may constitute the voter registration register. The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall withhold information in the register designated as confidential under section 32-331. No portion of the register made available to the public and no list distributed pursuant to this section shall include the digital signature of any voter.

(2) The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall make available a list of registered voters that contains no more than the information authorized in subsection (3) of this section and, if requested, a list that only contains such information for registered voters who have voted in an election held more than thirty days prior to the request for the list. The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall establish the price of the lists at a rate that fairly covers the actual production cost of the lists, not to exceed three cents per name. Lists shall be used solely for purposes related to elections, political activities, voter registration, law enforcement, or jury selection. Lists shall not be posted, displayed, or used for commercial purposes or made accessible on the Internet.

(3)(a) The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall withhold from any list of registered voters distributed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section any information in the voter registration records which is designated as confidential under section 32-331 or marked private on the voter registration application or voter registration record.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) of this subsection, a list of registered voters distributed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall contain no more than the following information:

(i) The registrant's name;

(ii) The registrant's residential address;

(iii) The registrant's mailing address;

(iv) The registrant's telephone number;

(v) The registrant's voter registration status;

(vi) The registrant's voter identification number;

(vii) The registrant's date of birth;

(viii) The registrant's date of voter registration;

(ix) The registrant's voting precinct;

(x) The registrant's polling site;

(xi) The registrant's political party affiliation;

(xii) The political subdivisions in which the registrant resides; and

(xiii) The registrant's voter history.

(4) Any person who acquires a list of registered voters under subsection (2) of this section shall provide his or her name, address, telephone number, email address, and campaign committee name or organization name, if applicable, and the state of organization, if applicable, and shall take and subscribe to an oath in substantially the following form:

(5) The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall provide, upon request and free of charge, a complete and current listing of all registered voters and their addresses to the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. Such list shall be provided no later than December 31 of each even-numbered year.

(6) The Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall provide, upon request and free of charge, a complete and current listing of all registered voters containing only the information authorized under subsection (3) of this section to the state party headquarters of each political party and to the county chairperson of each political party.

(7) Nothing in this section shall prevent a political party or candidate from using the list of registered voters for campaign activities.

32-404 (1) When any political subdivision holds an election in conjunction with the statewide primary or general election, the election shall be held as provided in the Election Act. Any other election held by a political subdivision shall be held as provided in the act unless otherwise provided by the charter, code, or bylaws of the political subdivision.

(2) No later than December 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Secretary of State, election commissioner, or county clerk shall give notice to each political subdivision of the filing deadlines for the statewide primary election. No later than January 5 of each even-numbered year, the governing board of each political subdivision which will hold an election in conjunction with a statewide primary election shall certify to the Secretary of State, the election commissioner, or the county clerk the name of the subdivision, the number of officers to be elected, the length of the terms of office, the vacancies to be filled by election and length of remaining term, and the number of votes to be cast by a registered voter for each office.

(3) No later than June 15 of each even-numbered year, the governing board of each reclamation district, county weed district, village, county under township organization, public power district receiving annual gross revenue of less than forty million dollars, or educational service unit which will hold an election in conjunction with a statewide general election shall certify to the Secretary of State, the election commissioner, or the county clerk the name of the subdivision, the number of officers to be elected, the length of the terms of office, the vacancies to be filled by election and length of remaining term, and the number of votes to be cast by a registered voter for each office.

(4) The Secretary of State shall prescribe the forms to be used for certification to him or her, and the election commissioner or county clerk shall prescribe the forms to be used for certification to him or her.

32-552 (1) Except as provided by subsection (4) of this section, at At least five months prior to an election, the governing board of any political subdivision requesting the adjustment of the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the requesting political subdivision's governing board and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the political subdivision.

(2) After the next federal decennial census, the election commissioner of the county in which the greater part of a Class IV school district is situated shall, subject to review by the school board, divide the school district into seven numbered districts, substantially equal in population as determined by the most recent federal decennial census. The election commissioner shall consider the location of schools within the district and their boundaries. The election commissioner shall adjust the boundaries of the election districts, subject to final review and adjustment by the school board, to conform to changes in the territory and population of the school district and also following each federal decennial census. Except when specific procedures are otherwise provided, section 32-553 shall apply to all Class IV school districts.

(3) For purposes of election of members to the board of education of a Class V school district:

(a)(i) The Legislature hereby divides such school district into nine numbered election districts of compact and contiguous territory and of as nearly equal population as may be practical. Each election district shall be entitled to one member on the board of education of such Class V school district. The Legislature adopts the official population figures and maps from the 2010 Census Redistricting (Public Law 94-171) TIGER/ Line Shapefiles published by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. The numbers and boundaries of the election districts are designated and established by a map identified and labeled as OPS-13-002, filed with the Clerk of the Legislature, and incorporated by reference as part of Laws 2013, LB125. Such districts are drawn using the boundaries of the Class V school district as they existed on February 12, 2013; (ii) the Clerk of the Legislature shall transfer possession of the map referred to in subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection to the Secretary of State and the election commissioner of the county in which the greater part of the school district is situated on February 12, 2013; (iii) when questions of interpretation of such election district boundaries arise, the map referred to in subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection in possession of such election commissioner shall serve as the indication of the legislative intent in drawing the election district boundaries; and (iv) the Secretary of State and such election commissioner shall also have available for viewing on his or her web site the map referred to in subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection identifying the boundaries for such election districts; and

(b) After the next federal decennial census, the election commissioner of the county in which the greater part of a Class V school district is situated shall divide the school district into nine numbered districts of compact and contiguous territory and of as nearly equal population as may be practical. The election commissioner shall adjust the boundaries of such districts, subject to final review and adjustment by the school board, to conform to changes in the territory of the school district and also following each federal decennial census.

(4) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, the governing board of any political subdivision requesting the adjustment of the boundaries of election districts shall provide to the election commissioner or county clerk (a) written notice of the need and necessity of his or her office to perform such adjustments and (b) a revised election district boundary map that has been approved by the requesting political subdivision's governing board and subjected to all public review and challenge ordinances of the political subdivision by December 30, 2021.

(5) The Secretary of State may grant additional days upon request of the political subdivision if precinct maps are not delivered to the political subdivision by November 1, 2021, or for an extraordinary circumstance.

32-553 (1)(a) (1) When any political subdivision except a public power district nominates or elects members of the governing board by districts, such districts shall be substantially equal in population as determined by the most recent federal decennial census.

(b) Except as provided by subdivision (c) of this subsection, (i) any Any such political subdivision which has districts in place on the date the census figures used in drawing district boundaries for the Legislature are required to be submitted to the state by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, shall, if necessary to maintain substantial population equality as required by this subsection, have new district boundaries drawn within six months after the passage and approval of the legislative bill providing for reestablishing legislative districts and (ii) any . Any such political subdivision in existence on the date the census figures used in drawing district boundaries for the Legislature are required to be submitted to the state by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and which has not established any district boundaries shall establish district boundaries pursuant to this section within six months after such date.

(c) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, any such political subdivision which has districts in place on the date the census figures used in drawing district boundaries for the Legislature are required to be submitted to the state by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, shall, if necessary to maintain substantial population equality as required by this subsection, have new district boundaries drawn and submitted to the election commissioner or county clerk by December 30, 2021, after the passage and approval of the legislative bill providing for reestablishing legislative districts. Any such political subdivision in existence on the date the census figures used in drawing district boundaries for the Legislature are required to be submitted to the state by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and which has not established any district boundaries shall establish district boundaries and submit the boundaries to the election commissioner or county clerk pursuant to this section by December 30, 2021.

(d) The Secretary of State may grant additional days upon request of the political subdivision if precinct maps are not delivered to the political subdivision by November 1, 2021, or for an extraordinary circumstance.

(e) If the deadline for drawing or redrawing district boundary lines imposed by this section is not met, the procedures set forth in section 32-555 shall be followed.

(2) The governing board of each such political subdivision shall be responsible for drawing its own district boundaries and shall, as nearly as possible, follow the precinct lines created by the election commissioner or county clerk after each federal decennial census, except that the election commissioner of any county in which a Class IV or V school district is located shall draw district boundaries for such school district as provided in this section and section 32-552.

32-606 (1) Any candidate may place his or her name on the primary election ballot by filing a candidate filing form prescribed by the Secretary of State as provided in section 32-607. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, if a candidate for an elective office is an incumbent of any elective office, the filing period for filing the candidate filing form shall be between January 5 December 1 and February 15 prior to the date of the primary election. No incumbent who resigns from elective office prior to the expiration of his or her term shall file for any office after February 15 of that election year. All other candidates shall file for office between January 5 December 1 and March 1 prior to the date of the primary election. A candidate filing form and a copy of payment of the filing fee, if applicable, may be transmitted by facsimile for the offices listed in subdivision (1) of section 32-607 if (a) the transmission is received in the office of the filing officer by the filing deadline and (b) the original filing form and payment of the filing fee, if applicable, is mailed to the filing officer with a legible postmark bearing a date on or prior to the filing deadline and is in the office of the filing officer no later than seven days after the filing deadline.

(2) Any candidate for a township office in a county under township organization, the board of trustees of a village, the board of directors of a reclamation district, the county weed district board, the board of directors of a public power district receiving annual gross revenue of less than forty million dollars, or the board of an educational service unit may place his or her name on the general election ballot by filing a candidate filing form prescribed by the Secretary of State as provided in section 32-607. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, if a candidate for an elective office is an incumbent of any elective office, the filing period for filing the candidate filing form shall be between January 5 December 1 and July 15 prior to the date of the general election. No incumbent who resigns from elective office prior to the expiration of his or her term shall file for any office after July 15 of that election year. All other candidates shall file for office between January 5 December 1 and August 1 prior to the date of the general election. A candidate filing form may be transmitted by facsimile for the offices listed in subdivision (1) of section 32-607 if (a) the transmission is received in the office of the filing officer by the filing deadline and (b) the original filing form is mailed to the filing officer with a legible postmark bearing a date on or prior to the filing deadline and is in the office of the filing officer no later than seven days after the filing deadline.

(3) Any city having a home rule charter may provide for filing deadlines for any person desiring to be a candidate for the office of council member or mayor.

(4) If a candidate for an elective office was appointed to an elective office to fill a vacancy after the deadline for an incumbent to file a candidate filing form in subsection (1) or (2) of this section but before the deadline for all other candidates, the candidate may file a candidate filing form for any office on or before the deadline for all other candidates.

32-608 (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5) of this section, a filing fee shall be paid by or on behalf of each candidate prior to filing for office. For candidates who file in the office of the Secretary of State as provided in subdivision (1) of section 32-607, the filing fee shall be paid to the Secretary of State who shall remit the fee to the State Treasurer for credit to the Election Administration Fund. For candidates for any city or village office, the filing fee shall be paid to the city or village treasurer of the city or village in which the candidate resides. For candidates who file in the office of the election commissioner or county clerk, the filing fee shall be paid to the election commissioner or county clerk in the county in which the office is sought. The election commissioner or county clerk shall remit the fee to the county treasurer. The fee shall be placed in the general fund of the county, city, or village. No candidate filing forms shall be filed until the proper payment or the proper receipt showing the payment of such filing fee is presented to the filing officer. On the day of the filing deadline, the city or village treasurer's office shall remain open to receive filing fees until the hour of the filing deadline.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5) of this section, the filing fees shall be as follows:

(a) For the office of United States Senator, state officers, including members of the Legislature, Representatives in Congress, county officers, and city or village officers, except the mayor or council members of cities having a home rule charter, a sum equal to one percent of the annual salary as of November 30 of the year preceding the election for the office for which he or she files as a candidate;

(b) For directors of public power and irrigation districts in districts receiving annual gross revenue of forty million dollars or more, twenty-five dollars, and in districts receiving annual gross revenue of less than forty million dollars, ten dollars;

(c) For directors of reclamation districts, ten dollars; and

(d) For Regents of the University of Nebraska, members of the State Board of Education, and directors of metropolitan utilities districts, twenty-five dollars.

(3) All declared write-in candidates shall pay the filing fees that are required for the office at the time that they present the write-in affidavit to the filing officer. Any undeclared write-in candidate who is nominated or elected by write-in votes shall pay the filing fee required for the office within ten days after the canvass of votes by the county canvassing board and shall file the receipt with the person issuing the certificate of nomination or the certificate of election prior to the certificate being issued.

(4) No filing fee shall be required for any candidate filing for an office in which a per diem is paid rather than a salary or for which there is a salary of less than five hundred dollars per year. No filing fee shall be required for any candidate for membership on a school board, on the board of an educational service unit, on the board of governors of a community college area, on the board of directors of a natural resources district, or on the board of trustees of a sanitary and improvement district.

(5) No filing fee shall be required of any candidate completing an affidavit requesting to file for elective office in forma pauperis. A pauper shall mean a person whose income and other resources for maintenance are found under assistance standards to be insufficient for meeting the cost of his or her requirements and whose reserve of cash or other available resources does not exceed the maximum available resources that an eligible individual may own. Available resources shall include every type of property or interest in property that an individual owns and may convert into cash except:

(a) Real property used as a home;

(b) Household goods of a moderate value used in the home; and

(c) Assets to a maximum value of three thousand dollars used by a recipient in a planned effort directed towards self-support.

(6) If any candidate dies prior to an election, the spouse of the candidate may file a claim for refund of the filing fee with the proper governing body prior to the date of the election. Upon approval of the claim by the proper governing body, the filing fee shall be refunded.

32-716 (1) Any person, group, or association desiring to form a new political party shall present to the Secretary of State petitions containing signatures totaling not less than one percent of the total votes cast for Governor at the most recent general election for such office. The signatures of registered voters on such petitions shall be so distributed as to include registered voters totaling at least one percent of the votes cast for Governor in the most recent gubernatorial election in each of the three congressional districts in this state. Petition signers and petition circulators shall conform to the requirements of sections 32-629 and 32-630. The petitions shall be filed with the Secretary of State no later than January 15 February 1 before any statewide primary election for the new political party to be entitled to have ballot position in the primary election of that year. If the new political party desires to be established and have ballot position for the general election and not in the primary election of that year, the petitions shall be filed with the Secretary of State on or before July 15 August 1 of that year. Prior to the circulation of petitions to form a new political party, a sample copy of the petitions shall be filed with the Secretary of State by the person, group, or association seeking to establish the new party. The sample petition shall be accompanied by the name and address of the person or the names and addresses of the members of the group or association sponsoring the petition to form a new political party. The sponsor or sponsors of the petition shall file, as one instrument, all petition papers comprising a new political party petition for signature verification with the Secretary of State. All signed petitions in circulation but not filed with the Secretary of State shall become invalid after July 15 in the year of the statewide general election.

(2) The petition shall conform to the requirements of section 32-628. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the form of the petition for the formation of a new political party. The petition shall be addressed to and filed with the Secretary of State and shall state its purpose and the name of the party to be formed. Such name shall not be or include the name of any political party then in existence or any word forming any part of the name of any political party then in existence, and in order to avoid confusion regarding party affiliation of a candidate or registered voter, the name of the party to be formed shall not include the word "independent" or "nonpartisan". The petition shall contain a statement substantially as follows:

We, the undersigned registered voters of the State of Nebraska and the county of ............... , being severally qualified to sign this petition, respectfully request that the above-named new political party be formed in the State of Nebraska, and each for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition on the date opposite my name; I am a registered voter of the State of Nebraska and county of ............... and am qualified to sign this petition; and my date of birth and city, village, or post office address and my street and number or voting precinct are correctly written after my name.

32-717 Within twenty business ten days after all the petitions to form a new political party which contain signatures are filed with the Secretary of State, he or she shall determine the validity and sufficiency of such petitions and signatures. Clerical and technical errors in a petition shall be disregarded if the forms prescribed by the Secretary of State are substantially followed. If the petitions are determined to be sufficient and valid, the Secretary of State shall issue a certification establishing the new political party. Copies of such certification shall be issued to the person, group, or association forming the new political party. Within twenty days after the certification of establishment of the new political party by the Secretary of State, the person, group, or association forming the new political party or its new officers shall file with the Secretary of State the constitution and bylaws of such party along with a certified list of the names and addresses of the officers of the new political party.

32-816 (1) A blank space shall be provided at the end of each office division on the ballot for registered voters to fill in the name of any person for whom they wish to vote and whose name is not printed upon the ballot, except that at the primary election there shall be no write-in space for delegates to the county political party convention or delegates to the national political party convention. A square or oval shall be printed opposite each write-in space similar to the square or oval placed opposite other candidates and issues on the ballot. The square or oval shall be marked to vote for a write-in candidate whose name appears in the write-in space provided.

(2) The Secretary of State shall approve write-in space for optical- scan ballots and any other voting system authorized for use under the Election Act. Adequate provision shall be made for write-in votes sufficient to allow one write-in space for each office to be elected at any election except offices for which write-in votes are specifically prohibited. The write-in ballot shall clearly identify the office for which such write-in vote is cast. The write-in space shall be a part of the official ballot, may be on the envelope or a separate piece of paper from the printed portion of the ballot, and shall allow the voter adequate space to fill in the name of the candidate for whom he or she desires to cast his or her ballot.

32-903 (1) The election commissioner or county clerk shall create precincts composed of compact and contiguous territory within the boundary lines of legislative districts. The precincts shall contain not less than seventy-five nor more than one thousand seven hundred fifty registered voters based on the number of voters voting at the last statewide general election, except that a precinct may contain less than seventy-five registered voters if in the judgment of the election commissioner or county clerk it is necessary to avoid creating an undue hardship on the registered voters in the precinct. The election commissioner or county clerk shall create precincts based on the number of votes cast at the immediately preceding presidential election or the current list of registered voters for the precinct. The election commissioner or county clerk shall revise and rearrange the precincts and increase or decrease them at such times as may be necessary to make the precincts contain as nearly as practicable not less than seventy-five nor more than one thousand seven hundred fifty registered voters voting at the last statewide general election. The election commissioner or county clerk shall, when necessary and possible, readjust precinct boundaries to coincide with the boundaries of cities, villages, and school districts which are divided into districts or wards for election purposes. The election commissioner or county clerk shall not make any precinct changes in precinct boundaries or divide precincts into two or more parts between the statewide primary and general elections unless he or she has been authorized to do so by the Secretary of State. If changes are authorized, the election commissioner or county clerk shall notify each state and local candidate affected by the change.

(2) The election commissioner or county clerk may alter and divide the existing precincts, except that when any city of the first class by ordinance divides any ward of such city into two or more voting districts or polling places, the election commissioner or county clerk shall establish precincts or polling places in conformity with such ordinance. No such alteration or division shall take place between the statewide primary and general elections except as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, the election commissioner or county clerk shall create, revise, or rearrange precincts in compliance with subsections (1) and (2) of this section and deliver maps of the updated precinct boundaries to all applicable political subdivisions within the jurisdiction of the election commissioner or county clerk by November 1, 2021.

(4) The Secretary of State may grant additional days for election commissioners and county clerks to meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section for an extraordinary circumstance.

32-1005 If the last name or a reasonably close spelling of the last name of a person engaged in or pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615 or 32-633 is written or printed on a line provided for that purpose and the square or oval opposite such line has been marked with a cross or other clear, intelligible mark, the vote shall be valid and the ballot shall be counted. A Except as provided in section 32-1007, a write-in vote for a person who is not engaged in or pursuing a write-in campaign pursuant to section 32-615 or 32-633 shall not be counted.

70-611 (1) Not later than January 5 in each even-numbered year, the secretary of the district in districts grossing forty million dollars or more annually shall certify to the Secretary of State on forms prescribed by the Secretary of State the names of the counties in which all registered voters are eligible to vote for public power district candidates and for other counties the names of the election precincts within each county excluding the municipalities in which voters are not eligible to vote on public power district candidates. The secretary shall also certify the number of directors to be elected and the length of terms for which each is to be elected.

(2) Districts grossing less than forty million dollars annually shall prepare the same type of certification as districts grossing over forty million dollars annually and file such certification with the Secretary of State not later than June 15 July 1 of each even-numbered year.

(3) The secretary of each district shall, at the time of filing the certification, cause to be published once in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation within the district a list of the incumbent directors and naming the counties or election precincts excluding those municipalities in which voters are not eligible to vote for public power district candidates in the same general form as the certification filed with the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the published notice shall be filed with the Secretary of State within ten days after such publication.

70-663 (1) This subsection applies to charter amendments submitted after December 31, 2021. Upon such authorization occurring, the proposed amendment shall thereupon be submitted to the Nebraska Power Review Board, together with a petition setting forth the reasons for the adoption of such amendment, and requesting that the same be approved. The Nebraska Power Review Board shall then cause notice to be given by publication for three consecutive weeks in two legal newspapers of general circulation within such district. Such notice shall set forth in full the proposed amendment and set a date, not sooner than three weeks after the last date of publication of the notice, for protests, complaints, or objections to be filed with the Nebraska Power Review Board in opposition to the adoption of such amendment. The cost of such publication shall be paid by such district. If any person residing in such district, or affected by the proposed amendment, shall, within the time provided, file a protest, complaint, or objection, the Nebraska Power Review Board shall schedule a hearing and give due notice thereof to the district, the district's representative, and the person who filed such protest, complaint, or objection. Any person filing a protest, complaint, or objection may appear at such hearing and contest the approval by the Nebraska Power Review Board of such proposed amendment. After all protests, complaints, or objections have been heard, the Nebraska Power Review Board shall act upon the petition and either approve or disapprove the amendment. If no protests, complaints, or objections are properly filed, the board shall either approve the amendment without a hearing or schedule a hearing to determine whether or not the amendment should be approved. If a hearing is scheduled, due notice shall be provided to the district and the district representative.

(2) This subsection applies to charter amendments submitted before December 31, 2021. Following the release of the 2020 Census of Population data by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as required by Public Law 94-171, any public power district seeking an amendment to its charter shall submit the proposed amendment to the Nebraska Power Review Board on or before December 17, 2021. If the proposed amendment is in proper form, the Nebraska Power Review Board shall give conditional approval of the amendment on or before December 30, 2021. The approval process provided in subsection (1) of this section shall occur concurrent with the conditional approval process. If a protest, complaint, or objection is filed and a hearing is set, any decision from the Nebraska Power Review Board rejecting the amendment shall be decided and notification provided to the Secretary of State by March 1, 2022. Immediately upon receiving such notification, the Secretary of State shall notify all election commissioners and county clerks responsible for such elections within the public power district that the conditionally approved boundaries were rejected and that the previous boundaries shall be used for the primary and general elections.

79-1217 (1) All educational service units shall be governed by a board to be known as the Board of Educational Service Unit No. ..... . Until the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in January 2009, the educational service unit board, except the board of an educational service unit with only one member school district, shall be composed of one member from each county and four members at large, all of whom shall reside within the geographical boundaries of the educational service unit, but no more than two of the members at large shall be appointed or elected from the same county unless any one county within the educational service unit has a population in excess of one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants or the educational service unit consists of only one county. Beginning on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in January 2009, the educational service unit board, except the board of an educational service unit with only one member school district, shall be composed of one member elected to represent each election district established pursuant to section 79-1217.01. Successors to the members initially appointed pursuant to section 79-1212 shall be elected pursuant to section 32-515.

(2) Vacancies in office shall occur as set forth in section 32-560, except as otherwise provided in section 79-1212 regarding the requirement to live in the district represented, or in the case of absences, unless excused by a majority of the remaining members of the board, when a member is absent from the geographical boundaries of the educational service unit for a continuous period of sixty days at one time or from more than two consecutive regular meetings of the board. Whenever any vacancy occurs on the board, the remaining members of such board shall appoint an individual residing within the election district of the educational service unit for which the vacancy exists and meeting the qualifications for the office to fill such vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term. The board shall file written notice of such appointment with the Secretary of State.

(3) Members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under the Educational Service Units Act as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177.

(4) Any joint school district located in two or more counties shall be considered a part of the educational service unit in which the greater number of school-age children of such joint school district reside.

(5) The administrator of each educational service unit, prior to July 1 of each year in which a statewide primary election is to be held, shall certify to the election commissioner or county clerk of each county located within the unit the corporate name of each school district, as described in section 79-405, located within the county. If a school district is a joint school district located in two or more counties, the administrator shall certify to each election commissioner or county clerk the educational service unit of which the school district is considered to be a part.

(6) An educational service unit may consist of a single school district if the single school district is either a Class IV or Class V school district. An educational service unit with only one member school district shall be governed by the school board of such school district and shall participate in one or more of the statewide projects managed by the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council.

Sec. 21. The following section is outright repealed: Section 32-1006, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska.