Historical Lessons Shape Modern Election Security in Nebraska
Danielle Jensen, the current Douglas County election commissioner, did not initially consider the historical circumstances that led to the appointment of election commissioners by the governor for counties with populations exceeding 100,000. Her curiosity was piqued as she delved into the history of Tom Dennison at the Omaha Public Library, Central Branch.
Originally, this legislation pertained only to Douglas County, the sole county exceeding 100,000 residents when the Honest Election Law was enacted. Lancaster County established its own office in 1947, followed by Sarpy County in the 1990s.
Today, Jensen and her team strive to ensure the integrity of elections, implementing measures such as bipartisan poll worker participation, meticulous voter registration maintenance, and thorough signature and ID verification. Jensen believes that the election fraud perpetrated by figures like Dennison is unlikely in the present day.
“We have so many checks and balances, so many procedure checks, so many, so many things in place in law,” said Jensen. “I think it’s something that we’re just going to have to learn about and relive through history books. I think it’s important to learn about it so that it doesn’t happen.”
For Jensen, election security is not only critically important but also personally meaningful.
“Not only is it our right, it’s our civic duty as American citizens to participate in the process because we’re making decisions about who makes our laws,” Jensen stated. “I think it’s almost your duty, and so when someone comes in and messes with that, that taints the entire process. To me, that taints our country. It taints what our founding fathers fought for.”
Tom Dennison remains a significant historical figure for both Jensen and Neal. Though Dennison continued his illegal activities in Omaha, his influence over local elections waned until a federal court case permanently damaged his reputation. Dennison passed away in 1934, and his funeral procession was notably one of Omaha’s longest, reflecting public sentiment. Jensen credits Dennison, to some extent, with prompting Nebraska’s current election security measures.
“It all came about because of Tom Dennison,” Jensen remarked. “I kind of have him to thank for my job in a long roundabout way.”
