The bill (LB111) sponsored by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill would require voters to show a government-issued photo ID, but provides for acquisition of a state card at no cost for voters who may not have a photo ID.
The bill ran into a buzz saw of opposition Tuesday during floor debate that signaled the beginning of a filibuster that will resume Wednesday.
Opponents said there is no evidence of voter fraud to suggest that the new requirement is needed and that the result would be an impediment to voting that would tend to depress, if not actively suppress, voter turnout.
Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha suggested there could be "a significant cost" to the state to provide free IDs to Nebraskans who request them. Opponents of the measure have estimated that cost would exceed $1 million.
The battle over voter ID legislation is being waged across a national landscape, with Republicans generally supporting photo IDs and Democrats arguing that the purpose of the new requirement is to suppress the vote cast by segments of the population that normally vote Democratic.
The bill could be held captive by a filibuster if at least 17 of the 49 senators prevent it from moving ahead.
But there is a national solution.
If states installed electronic poll book systems, which include a database of registered voters photos, captured during the registration process, there would be no need for photo ID cards.
But this still does not resolve the absentee ballot issue. How do you verify the person requesting the absentee ballot should receive it? Let me know how you would handle this issue.
Taking this security issue further, how do you verify any online system of voter registration or change, if you can not view the face of the requester?
UPDATE
Efforts to require Nebraska voters to show identification at the polls came to an abrupt halt Wednesday, less than 24 hours after lawmakers began what many expected to be a long, heated debate.
Lawmakers voted 25-15 to push the measure to the bottom of the 2015 agenda, meaning it has little chance of returning this year. The move came after numerous amendments were added to the bill, which has faced heavy resistance from lawmakers and civil rights activists who say it would disenfranchise poor and minority voters. Opponents also note that Nebraska has no documented cases of voter fraud.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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