FALLS CITY – Gov. Pete Ricketts signed an executive order Tuesday to relieve counties from the duty to provide in-person voter registration inside of election offices and eliminated the requirement for in-person early voting.

County offices must continue to accommodate voters were require Americans With Disabilities ballot marking. These voters may scheduled an appointment with election offices.

Gov. Ricketts declared an emergency on March 13 to control the spread of COVID-19.  At the time of the declaration, the county offices were scheduled to re-open on April 13, which is the beginning date for early voting.

The governor’s executive order Tuesday says it would increase health risk to employees and voters to re-open for early voting. It says all voters can register online or by mail and all voters were mailed applications for mail-in ballots.

The Richardson County Elections Office says there will be no in-person early voting for the primary election.