Thread: Is the Nebraska Voter ID Debate Really Dead? (Hint: NO)

By Deena Winter on March 30, 2012
Print This Article Although a bill requiring Nebraska voters to show identification died in the Legislature Wednesday after supporters were unable to stop a filibuster from derailing the bill, the debate is far from over.


In fact, some supporters of a so-called voter ID law are still talking about the issue, and a possible ballot initiative to put the issue before voters. Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, who sponsored the bill that would have required voters to show ID (or vote provisionally) said supporters of such a law have asked him what it would take to get the issue on the ballot.

To get on the November ballot, they would have to gather about 114,000 signatures by July 6, according to Deputy Secretary of State Neal Erickson.


“Some people are looking at it right now,” Janssen said. “They’re trying to wrap their heads around that… it’s not a simple task to undertake.”


Adam Morfeld, executive director of Nebraskans for Civic Reform, was one of the leaders of a coalition over more than 30 groups that fought Janssen’s bill. He said the Nebraska Voting Rights Coalition will continue to educate Nebraskans and “aggressively fight unnecessary laws that impede the fundamental right to vote whether it is in the Legislature or on the ballot.”


Although Janssen is focused on his re-election campaign right now, he said he’d be happy to assist any petition drive. He argued people should have to show some form of ID before voting to protect the integrity of the voting process and prevent voter fraud.


However, critics say such laws disenfranchise poor, elderly, young and disabled people because they are more likely to move more often or not have traditional identification, such as a driver’s license. They also say proponents cannot point to cases of voter fraud in Nebraska.


Thirty-one states require people to present some kind of identification in order to vote — and in 15 of those states it must be a photo ID. But Nebraska is one of 20 states with no voter ID law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.


Reported by Deena Winter, deena@nebraskawatchdog.org.


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I'd sign it....