Dec 16, 2024 Story by: Editor
Omaha, Neb. (WOWT) – Over the past year, the Black Votes Matter Institute for Community Engagement, a local nonprofit, has been actively conducting a door-to-door campaign to encourage voter registration among North Omaha residents.
The initiative aimed to register 15,000 new voters and achieve a 70 percent voter turnout in the general election.
“Let’s, once and for all, show our power and leverage of our vote,” said Preston Love Jr., the organization’s founder.
Data from the Douglas County Election Commission shows that North Omaha’s two legislative districts—11 and 13—gained 1,910 newly registered voters, with a turnout rate just under 60 percent.
Due to redistricting in 2021, the commission indicated it’s challenging to draw direct comparisons with the 2020 general election.
Despite this, Love remains optimistic.
“The idea behind the initiative was we set a lofty goal, and if we make progress towards that goal, that’s going to be progress in itself,” he explained.
North Omaha’s turnout percentage was approximately 15 points lower than the overall county turnout, which had a higher rate. However, Love highlighted a notable improvement in turnout within city council districts 1 and 2, where more residents participated in the 2024 general election compared to 2020.
“That is progress,” Love said. “That did narrow the gap, to some degree, from our historical piece.”
While encouraged by the progress, Love acknowledged that significant work remains.
The next phase of the campaign is already underway. It focuses on opposing efforts to revert Nebraska to a winner-take-all electoral system and promoting voter education and registration for the upcoming mayoral and city council elections in Omaha and Lincoln this spring.
“Getting people interested and educated about the election and the candidate—all candidates,” Love emphasized. “To get them to see the value of voter registration and turnout in these very important local elections.”
Additionally, the nonprofit plans to begin canvassing efforts for the 2028 election cycle, building on the strategies employed this past year. Source: WOWT
