Fast-moving developments on voting rights highlighted today’s [2.5.24] morning session at the Nebraska Legislature. State Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood introduced an amendment to a technical election bill and proposed strict new restrictions on early voting. It was hastily adopted, but when some senators indicated that the contentious amendment endangered the overall bill, the amendment was withdrawn.
This was a close call – but the process left a record of state senators who supported the amendment and further restrictions on a voting method that nearly half of Nebraskans prefer.
While this latest challenge to Nebraskans’ voting rights was avoided, an even more extreme measure will be considered next week. On Feb. 14, the Legislature’s Government Committee will hear testimony on LB1211, which proposes even steeper rollbacks on early voting. LB1211 aims to cut the number of days Nebraskans could cast early ballots by more than one-third, from 35 days down to 22.
Early voting is a hallmark of a modern, robust democracy. It increases voter turnout among many groups, reduces wait times at the polls, saves money on staffing in our election offices, and accommodates more voters than a single 12-hour window on Election Day can.
Between now and 8 am Feb. 14, please let state senators know that voter suppression is NOT a Nebraska value. And, if you are in the Lincoln area, please join us at 1:30 pm on Feb. 14 in Room 1507 at the State Capitol for the committee hearing on LB1211.
