LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraskans could register to vote online and would have to present a photo ID in certain situations under a pair of bills that will have a public hearing next week.
Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha has introduced three bills relating to elections and voting on behalf of Secretary of State John Gale. The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee will hear testimony on the bills on Thursday.
One of the bills would allow Nebraskans with a driver’s license or state identification card to register to vote or to update their voting information online. Thirteen states have online voter registration, Gale said.
The secretary of state would develop the system and the Department of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to provide the last four digits of a voter’s Social Security number, Gale said. The drivers’ licenses and Social Security numbers would be used to check with national records and other states to see where a voter is registered. The system would not be available until the 2016 election, Gale said.
“This is really this-century data, this-century capability,” Krist said.
The second bill would require a current photographic document, such as a driver’s license or a state ID card, to vote in situations involving first-time voters and those who don’t return change of address confirmation cards.
Although there is “no evidence of systemic voter fraud in Nebraska,” Gale said the bill he backs would address areas where there is a potential for fraud.
For example, those who register to vote by mail the first time are currently only required to furnish a simple form of identification, such as a utility bill.
Another cause for concern is those who provide notice to the post office of a change of permanent address and do not return voter confirmation cards. There are about 100,000 who fail to confirm, Gale said. Nebraska has about 1.15 million registered voters.
There is also concern for those who register to vote and early vote simultaneously.
Another bill introduced by Krist would expand mail elections. Currently, elections by mail can occur in counties with populations of less than 10,000 or for special election issues such as a sales tax or a school bond. The bill would eliminate the county size restriction and would allow for mail elections to be held for candidate recalls and office vacancies.
Nebraskans for Civic Reform supports both the online voter registration bill and efforts to expand mail elections, said Executive Director Adam Morfeld.
The group opposes the bill that makes changes to voter ID out of concern that it would disproportionately affect those under 35, who are more mobile. Those who don’t have a current driver’s license or state ID card would have to get a new one expressly for the purpose of voting. Nebraskans for Civic Reform considers than an unconstitutional poll tax, Morfeld said.
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The online registration bill is LB661. The voter identification changes bill is LB662. The mail elections bill is LB663.
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