Want to vote? This year, you'll need a photo ID for the Nebraska primary

Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY
·3 min read

Nebraskans heading to the polls to cast their ballot in the upcoming May 14 primary will be required to do something new: show proof of identity.

Gov. Jim Pillen signed the law last year, but starting with this year’s election, registered voters who want to cast their ballot must have “valid photographic identification,” meaning it must include a name and a photo.

Although there hasn’t been widespread voter fraud in the Cornhusker State, voters chose to establish a voter ID requirement through a 2022 ballot initiative to expand election security. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen says it keeps the state ahead of the curve, keeps voting easy, and makes elections more secure.

“The point is to stay ahead of the curve in a way that it is still easy to vote and harder to cheat,” Evnen said. “It is merely a way to further secure the integrity of our elections.”

Nebraska's photo ID requirement for voters will go into effect for the first time during the May 14 primary election.
Nebraska's photo ID requirement for voters will go into effect for the first time during the May 14 primary election.

More: Nebraska voter registration guide: Deadlines, polling places and how to vote early

While 36 states have requirements similar to Nebraska's, voter ID laws have received criticism for being unnecessary barriers for voters. David Kimball, a professor of political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis who studies election administration, says he’s skeptical of voter ID laws because election fraud is rare, and these photo ID requirements aren’t an effective way to address it.

“It’s a solution in search of a problem,” Kimball said. “It imposes an extra burden on voters.”

Cynthia Peterson, the president of the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County, says that although she doesn’t think there is a voter fraud issue in Nebraska and many voters still need to be educated about the new law, Evnen’s office did a good job taking a broad outline of the law from the legislature and shaping it into the requirements that are in place today.

“They did a monumental thing in a very short time,” Peterson said.

What to know about the voter ID requirement

Starting this year, Nebraska voters must present valid photo voter identification when requesting a ballot. Here is a list of eligible IDs, and according to the state’s website, the photo ID can be expired and have an out-of-date address.

  • Nebraska driver’s license or state ID

  • Passport

  • Military ID

  • Tribal ID

  • Hospital, assisted living , or nursing home record

  • Nebraska college or university ID

  • Nebraska political subdivision ID

More: Don't be fooled: 5 types of misinformation we expect this election season

If you forget your voter ID at home when going to the polls, you can cast a provisional ballot and then present an acceptable form of ID at your county commissioner’s office up to a week after the election date.

If you are voting by mail, you have two options for presenting ID. You can either provide the number on your driver’s license or state ID or send in a copy of another eligible form of ID.

For more information on on the voter ID law, visit the Nebraska Secretary of State website.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska Voter ID law put to test as state holds primary election