Election bill approved

Senators gave final approval May 5 to a bill that makes a number of changes to Nebraska election law.

LB449, introduced by Sen. John Nelson of Omaha, prevents a person who is registered to vote with a party affiliation on or before March 1 in a general election year from pursuing a petition campaign or accepting a party’s nomination.

The bill also:

• increases the maximum precinct size from 1,000 registered voters to 1,750;
• allows an election commissioner to be appointed to an elective office during his or her term as election commissioner, the acceptance of which will be deemed his or her resignation;
• requires deputy voting registrars to complete a training session offered by election commissioners and county clerks once every three years;
• adds e-mail addresses to the voter registration form;
• sets Dec. 1 as the earliest date for submission of candidate filing forms;
• adds Class V school district boards to the list of offices that do not require names to be listed on the primary ballot if all candidates automatically advance to the general election;
• opens early voting records to public inspection prior to an election;
• adds the learning community to the list of political subdivisions that must pay the cost of nominating and electing officers;
• requires the principal circulator of a recall petition to collect the petition forms from the election commissioner or county clerk within 20 days after receipt of the targeted official’s defense statement;
• extends the maximum time to hold a recall election from 45 days after the notification of the targeted official to 75 days;
• permits county clerks, election commissioners or their employees to affix their signature or initials to an early voting ballot instead of writing them; and
• eliminates a requirement that voters print their names and addresses on early voting oaths.

LB449 passed on a 47-0 vote.