Senators consider expanding voting options

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee considered a bill Feb. 5 that would alter the election process in Nebraska.

LB319, introduced by Papillion Sen. Jim Smith, would allow any county to request that an election be conducted by mail. Currently, only counties with populations of less than 10,000 may apply to eliminate polling places and instead conduct a by-mail election.

The bill also would permit special elections involving candidates to be conducted by mail. Currently, only special elections on issues can be conducted by mail.

Smith said the bill, brought to him by county election commissioners, would simplify the election process and makes it easier for rural voters to participate in elections.

Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale testified in support of the bill, saying it would give voters in less populated areas of the state the same voting opportunities as urban voters. He said voting by mail helps rural voters overcome barriers such as inclement weather, poor road conditions and having to travel long distances to polling sites that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Additionally, elections by mail save counties money, Gale said, because election commissioners do not have to hire staff and transport equipment to polling places. Gale added that population guidelines for mail-in elections will prevent a sudden increase in applications.

“We’re not trying to create all mail-in counties,” he said. “We’re just trying to create a convenient experience for the rural voter.”

Wayne Bena, Sarpy County election commissioner, also spoke in favor of the bill. Election commissioners are seeing a steady increase in mail-in ballots, he said, and precincts with mail-in ballots show higher voter turnouts than some precincts without.

“The bill gives us an additional tool to successfully conduct elections in our county,” Bena said.

No one spoke in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.