Bill would allow electronic petition signatures

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Jan. 31 on a bill that would allow the electronic collection of signatures for initiative petitions and referendums.

Under LB160, introduced by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher, the filing fee for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment would be $10,000 and all other petitions would be $5,000. The fees would apply only to filers who do not opt out of the electronic signature option. Sponsors who could not afford such fees could file a qualifying affidavit in lieu of the filing fee.

The bill also would require the secretary of state to:
• mail a postcard to signers notifying them that their electronic signatures have been received;
• establish a secure server; and
• establish a website containing the full text of the petition which must be viewed prior to the signature submission, as well as links providing information in support of and opposed to the petition.

“The voters of this state generally have expressed support for the petition process,” Schumacher said. “This bill enables [voters] to sit down and think about [the petition], read the pros and cons and sign it electronically.”

No one testified in support of the bill.

Jessica Kolterman of the Nebraska Farm Bureau testified in opposition. A declining population and limited Internet access already have put rural Nebraskans at a disadvantage, she said, so collecting signatures electronically would further the digital divide.

Deputy Secretary of State Neal Erickson also testified against the bill, saying it would be difficult for the secretary’s office to implement and that the website maintenance would be costly.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska testified in a neutral capacity, saying that the current petition process is too costly.

“There was a time when the petition was the second house in Nebraska and now it is only for those who can afford it,” he said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.