Same-day voting, registration changes advanced

People wanting to register to vote and cast an early ballot on the same day would face new requirements under a bill advanced from general file March 31.

LB565, as originally introduced by Omaha Sen. John Nelson, would have prohibited a person from registering to vote and casting an early ballot on the same day. Nelson said the bill would close a loophole in the state’s early voting procedures.

“When a person registers to vote and then casts an early ballot … the ballot goes into the box immediately,” he said. “It cannot be removed, even if the election commissioner finds an error on the registration form. We need to close this loophole and [this bill] provides a necessary solution.”

A Nelson amendment to a proposed committee amendment, adopted 32-1, removed most of the voter identification requirements for registrants wishing to cast an early ballot on the same day.

Under the amendment, an early ballot cast would be placed in an envelope with the voter’s name and address and kept securely for counting. It would not be counted if an acknowledgement of registration sent to the registrant is returned undeliverable within 10 days of mailing. If the acknowledgement is not returned after 10 days, the ballot would be counted.

The deadline for registering to vote and voting on the same day would be the same as the deadline for voter registration.

Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher raised a concern about voters’ privacy under the bill.

“When you do not vote in person at the polls, it is not secret. Anyone who is opening it can see it,” he said. “Even if the election commissioners are perfectly well behaved when they open that envelope, there are no consequences to it not being secret.”

Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek introduced an amendment that would incorporate provisions of his LB188. Under the amendment, the gubernatorial appointments of election commissioners in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties would require legislative confirmation.

Karpisek said there is no reason for the governor to appoint county officials.

“Ninety other counties either elect a commissioner or [the commissioner is] appointed by the county board,” he said. “If they are going to be appointed by the governor, then this body should be able to approve or deny them.”

The amendment failed on a 21-18 vote.

The amended committee amendment was adopted 32-0 and senators advanced the bill to select file on a 26-5 vote.