State senators have filibustered to death a bill that would have required voters to show government-issued photographic ID at their polling places. State senators debated the bill, LB239, on March 27 and March 28. A motion for cloture, or ending debate, Wednesday failed by three votes on a vote of 30-16. LB239 was introduced by Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont and prioritized by Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala. The bill, which was first debated Feb. 27, would require voters to present a driver’s license or state-issued identification card. With an amendment introduced by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, voters who lacked the needed ID would be mailed an acknowledgement of registration card to use as identification when voting.
Janssen said he introduced the bill to “further protect the integrity and reliability of elections. Nebraskans are honest and forthcoming people,” he said. But Nebraskans are also not naïve in thinking that voter fraud doesn’t exist, he said. Some opponents of the voter ID bill said it would create an impediment to voting. Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln, who voted against cutting off debate, said the bill would disproportionately burden certain groups of voters, such as the elderly, students and poor people.
Full Article: McCook Daily Gazette: State News: Voter ID bill filibustered to death (03/29/12).