A controversial voter identification measure died quickly Tuesday on the floor the Nebraska Legislature, but not before its sponsor vowed to start working on its resurrection. Lawmakers voted 25-17 in favor of a motion to end a filibuster, but that was well short of the 33 votes needed to overcome the delay tactic used by opponents of the voter ID resolution. State Sen. John Murante said he remains convinced that a strong majority of Nebraskans would support a law requiring voters to show photo ID before casting their ballots. He pledged to spend the next eight months working on a new bill or another proposed constitutional amendment to enact voter ID next year.
“If you don’t accept the election results, if you don’t have confidence in the election system, we are jeopardizing the peaceful transfer of power in this nation,” Murante said.
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said minorities have paid with their lives to gain access to the voting booth. For that reason, he promised to fight the voter ID resolution for the rest of the legislative session if necessary.
“I cannot talk about this like I talk about anything else,” he said. “This voting has resulted in black people being lynched.”
Full Article: Nebraska Legislature votes to kill voter ID resolution, but sponsor says he isn’t giving up | Legislature | omaha.com.