Loren Lippincott
As in most states, the Nebraska Secretary of State serves as the state’s chief elections officer and performs a variety of administrative functions essential to government operations. Established under the Nebraska Constitution as an elected constitutional office, the position is held for fouryear terms, with the current officeholder, Bob Evnen, having served two terms since January 2019.
The secretary of state is constitutionally charged to oversee several key areas: First, the secretary acts as the state’s chief election officer, supervising the conducting of elections, accepting filings for statewide offices, initiatives and referendums, administering election laws and working with the 93 county election offices to ensure procedures are followed. This includes overseeing voter registration, ballot preparation, tabulation of results and implementation of federal laws like the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The office also educates voters and certifies election outcomes through the State Board of Canvassers.
The second responsibility is business services. This division registers corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, trade names, trademarks and files Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) liens. It also commissions notaries public and administers programs like the address confidentiality program for victims.
Thirdly the office is responsible for occupational licensing, rules and regulations and records management. The office licenses certain professions and entities, such as collection agencies, debt management agencies, private detectives and polygraph examiners. The secretary maintains the Nebraska Administrative Code, files and certifies state agency rules and regulations and makes them available for public inspection. As state records administrator, the secretary also assists government agencies in managing records, including storage, conversion to digital formats and retention policies.
Last, but certainly not least, the secretary of state serves as the state’s chief protocol officer and promotes commerce, education and cultural exchanges with other countries, often through trade and investment missions.
Additional duties include serving as keeper of the Great Seal of Nebraska, preserving official state documents and participating in various boards, such as chairing the State Records and Collection Agency Licensing boards, serving as secretary to the Board of Pardons and serving on the Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
During Evnen’s tenure, the office has focused particularly on elections and international trade. For instance, Evnen oversaw the implementation of Nebraska’s voter ID requirement which was approved by voters in a 2022 constitutional amendment (Measure 432). His office coordinated with the Legislature on enabling legislation in 2023 and conducted public outreach, including sending notices to voters without photo IDs ahead of the 2024 primary and general elections. This rollout was described as smooth by county officials, with many voters already compliant via driver’s licenses or state IDs. Evnen has also emphasized election security through measures like tabulator testing, mock elections and postelection audits (including hand counts of 10 percent of votes in some cases).
On the international front, Evnen has led multiple trade and investment missions since 2019, including to Taiwan, Kenya, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt (planned or executed in 2025). These missions, sometimes in partnership with entities like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aim to open markets for Nebraska’s agricultural products, manufacturing, water management technologies and other industries. For example, the missions to Kenya addressed drought-related needs in agriculture, while Egypt was positioned as a gateway to the MENA region. The office’s statutory role in promoting such exchanges has supported Nebraska’s export economy, which includes billions annually in agricultural products and other goods.
Evnen has also been a leader nationally. In August of 2025 he was selected as treasurer for the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Executive Board for 2025-2026. NASS is a nonpartisan group focused on information exchange in elections, records and business services. He has also engaged nationally on topics like access to federal data for voter verification and supported initiatives related to citizenship confirmation in voter rolls.
Evnen’s prior experience as a labor attorney for over 40 years, including as a partner at Woods & Aitken, LLP and eight years on the Nebraska State Board of Education, has prepared him well for his current responsibilities. And as Nebraska prepares for the 2026 election cycle, the secretary of state’s multifaceted role remains central to maintaining election integrity, supporting business growth and fostering international connections.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.