Another year, another frustration for backers of requiring voter identification in Nebraska. State lawmakers on Thursday fell short of cutting off debate and advancing a proposed voter ID constitutional amendment. The vote marks the eighth year in a row that voter ID legislation has been blocked. State Sen. John Murante of Gretna, who introduced Legislative Resolution 1CA, said he is exploring the possibility of going directly to voters via an initiative petition drive. “This is not the end of the discussion,” he said. “There will come a day when the issue is taken out of the hands of legislators.” A second Murante proposal, which some dubbed “voter ID lite,” cleared first-round consideration later on Thursday after all of the voter identification provisions were stripped out.
As advanced, Legislative Bill 1065 would authorize counties to use electronic poll books. The new poll books would contain the same information as the current paper versions. The bill as introduced would have included photographs of voters in the electronic poll books for identification.
If he does pursue a petition drive on voter ID, Murante said he would be aiming for the November ballot this year.
Full Article: For eighth year, voter ID amendment defeated in Legislature | Legislature | omaha.com.