Voter ID bill bracketed

Lawmakers voted Feb. 18 to bracket a bill that would require voter identification in Nebraska, effectively ending debate on the issue this session.

LB111, as introduced by O’Neill Sen. Tyson Larson, would require voters to provide a government-issued photographic identification before voting. Under the bill, either a driver’s license or state ID card issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would be required.

If a voter indicates that he or she is indigent, the DMV would offer a state identification card at no cost for purposes of voting under the Election Act.

Larson said Nebraskans overwhelmingly support requiring ID to vote as a means of safeguarding the electoral process.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers offered a motion to bracket LB111 until June 5, saying the bill’s primary purpose is vote suppression.

“There is no right more treasured in a democracy than the right to vote,” he said.

Omaha Sen. John McCollister supported the bracket motion, saying studies have shown that voter fraud is not an issue in Nebraska. As a result, he said, the bill would send the wrong message.

“LB111 is unmistakable,” McCollister said, “it would indicate that Nebraska wants to disenfranchise voters—and we certainly don’t want to do that.”

The motion was approved on a 25-15 vote, making the bill unlikely to be debated again this session.