Nebraska lawmakers gave 2nd round voice vote approval Tuesday to a bill implementing the voter ID constitutional amendment passed by voters last year, moving it to final debate Thursday. Governor Jim Pillen says he’ll sign it if it passes.
The bill advanced after a 42-3 vote to end a 4-hour one-woman filibuster by Julie Slama, the face of last year’s campaign for the voter ID requirement but opposed to the bill that came out of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Slama said at one point “I don’t take filibustering lightly at all (but) I took an oath to uphold the constitution (and) it requires voter ID…so I’m going to follow through with my oath and with the will of the people.
Committee chairman Tom Brewer of Gordon said the bill is the result of a long discussion and much input, adding that it “does what the people have asked” and that if it doesn’t pass, a special session will be needed later this year to pass another bill.
The committee version allows a wide range of photo IDs, including expired ones, and has a few exceptions for the photo requirement. It also allows voters to simply write down on the ballot envelope the number from an ID which would be checked by county election officials.
Slama wants confirmation of ID to be notarized or witnessed by another registered voter at the time the envelope is sealed and verification of citizenship – even though proof of citizenship already must be shown when registering to vote.
Slama calls the bill “fraud-friendly,” even though Nebraska has no history of widespread voter fraud, saying voter ID is needed to prevent possible future problems.
Senator Brewer notes that 92 of Nebraska’s 93 county election commissioners support the bill with Slama’s sister, Emily Ethington of Sarpy County, the lone holdout.