A bill that makes a number of technical changes to the state\u2019s election laws was amended and advanced from select file May 5.<\/p>\n
Gretna Sen. John Murante, sponsor of LB575, said the bill is a \u201cclean-up\u201d effort on behalf of the secretary of state, election commissioners and county clerks across Nebraska.<\/p>\n
Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher offered an amendment during select file debate containing provisions of his LB121, which would require a secret-ballot envelope in which to place mail-in ballots.<\/p>\n
Under the amendment, a secret-ballot envelope means a ballot sleeve open only on one end or an envelope that:
\n\u2022 is provided to the voter by the election commissioner or county clerk;
\n\u2022 bears no characteristics that would identify the voter;
\n\u2022 could be used by a registered voter to insert his or her voted ballot before placing it in the return envelope to return the ballot to the election commissioner or county clerk; and
\n\u2022 has a notch, cutout, window or other design that permits examination of the ballot for the presence of the authorized signature without requiring removal of the ballot or revelation of any votes marked on the ballot.<\/p>\n
Schumacher said Nebraska consistently has increased the number of elections that use mail-in ballots in an effort to save money. In many counties, he said, mail-in ballots are the only option available to voters.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, he said, a ballot is placed in a return envelope that includes the voter\u2019s name and address\u2014thus it is not a secret ballot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is important because LB575 expands again the number of elections and the types of elections in which a secret ballot is not available to voters,\u201d Schumacher said.<\/p>\n
Murante opposed the amendment, saying it was part of a bill that the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chose not advance to general file.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not to say that the problem Sen. Schumacher has addressed doesn\u2019t have some merit\u2014it does,\u201d Murante said. \u201cBut this is not the proper way to go about solving it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell said lawmakers should work with county election officials over the interim to find an equitable, affordable solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that the counties are going to object to the policy [proposal] that Sen. Schumacher is making,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The amendment failed on a vote of 10-30.<\/p>\n
Murante offered an amendment that would require election commissioners in counties with a population more than 100,000 to wait 30 days after leaving office before running for or holding elective office.<\/p>\n
The amendment also would specify that poll workers could allocate their pay only to nonprofit entities and correct an oversight to allow the state Department of Motor Vehicles to furnish commercial driver\u2019s license information to the secretary of state\u2019s office for election law purposes.<\/p>\n
The Murante amendment was adopted 28-0.<\/p>\n
LB575 also would:
\n\u2022 clarify that vacancies for all offices must be filled within 45 days;
\n\u2022 replace \u201ca majority\u201d with \u201cone-half or more\u201d for vacancies that trigger special election;
\n\u2022 replace 10 days prior to election with \u201csecond Friday\u201d as the deadline for write-in affidavits;
\n\u2022 allow early voting requests to be submitted via e-mail;
\n\u2022 require voter history to be completed within 30 days rather than 60 days after an election;
\n\u2022 remove outdated language regarding county commissioners;
\n\u2022 close the potential for fusion candidates;
\n\u2022 remove a six-month restriction on an election commissioner being a candidate for or holding elective office after leaving office;
\n\u2022 remove primary election information from early voter return envelopes; and
\n\u2022 add language allowing the Nebraska secretary of state to designate a meeting location within the Capitol building for state canvassing board meetings.<\/p>\n
As amended on general file, the bill contains provisions of LB578, introduced by Murante, which would:
\n\u2022 allow poll workers to choose not to be paid or to allocate their pay to an organization contracted to recruit poll works;
\n\u2022 allow election officials and members of law enforcement to make copies of a voter’s registration form for list maintenance and law enforcement purposes;
\n\u2022 allow for the removal of certain information on an early ballot application; and
\n\u2022 raise the minimum rate that a political subdivision can be charged for an election from $50 to $100.<\/p>\n
The bill also contains provisions of two additional bills:
\nLB514, originally introduced by Omaha Sen. Joni Craighead, which would add an option for voters who wish to register to vote and vote early on the same day; and
\nLB319, introduced by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, which would permit election by mail for special elections involving candidates.<\/p>\n
LB575 advanced to final reading by voice vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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