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Voter ID Bill Back for Debate

Nicole Ebat

LINCOLN, NEB. (KPTM)--The debate on Nebraska requiring a government-issued photo ID in order to vote is back in the state capitol.

State Senator Charlie Janssen introduced LB 381 to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

He said the bill is about protecting the integrity of Nebraska's elections.

But a coalition of 27 different groups gathered at the hearing to voice their opposition.

"It is costly, disproportionately impacts seniors, students and people with low incomes or disabilities, and is a solution to a non-existent problem that even the introducer has admitted there is no evidence of," said Adam Morfeld, executive director of Nebraskans for Civic Reform.

The bill would require voters to present a current and valid government-issued photo ID before being allowed to cast a ballot.

The ID won't be required for early or mail-in voting.

Free state photo IDs will be available to people who can't afford it. They'll have to go to the DMV with the necessary paperwork to get it.

"Nebraskans have entitlement and access to free ID that never expires," said Doug Kagan with Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom. "Those who are too lazy to obtain a form of government ID probably are also too lazy to go to their poll on election day."

A similar bill died last year on the legislature floor after supporters were unable to break a filibuster against it.

The group Nebraskans for Civic Reform threatened a federal lawsuit if this voter ID bill passes.