WAYNE, Neb. — As the first of the early voters entered the Wayne County Courthouse Monday morning, each dutifully presented a driver's license to the county clerk's staff to receive a ballot.
If Monday was any indication, Wayne County Clerk Debra Finn said, the first election conducted with Nebraska's new voter ID law could be a breeze.
"Overall, people seem to understand it," Finn said. "Everyone has been ready so far."
Early in-person voting for Nebraska's May 14 primary election began Monday, and county election offices began mailing early voting ballots to those who requested them on April 8. Whether voting in person or requesting an early ballot, voters for the first time had to comply with the state's new voter ID requirements, which Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law on June 1.
Wayne County Clerk Debra Finn, displays a brochure on Nebraska's new voter ID law at an early voting station in the Wayne County Courthouse in…
The law requires voters to show a photo ID, such as a driver's license, before voting in person. Those requesting an early ballot, and those voting in counties that conduct elections only by mail, must provide their driver's license number -- or the number from another acceptable form of ID -- or a photocopy of the ID with their ballot request form and ballot return envelope.
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Voters seem to be aware of the change and have been prepared. As of Friday, approximately 60 Dakota County voters who had requested early ballots all provided driver's license numbers without question.
"So far, everybody's complied. We haven't had any issues yet," Dakota County Clerk Cherie Conley said. "I don't really foresee too many issues."
County clerks attributed that partially to the amount of publicity surrounding the new law and efforts to educate voters about the changes.
Finn sent fliers provided by the state to every registered voter in her county. Dixon County Clerk Cathy Stilwell also conducted a pre-election publicity campaign.
"We've done a lot of advertising in our local papers, so I think people understand," Stilwell said.
The three clerks said they've received a few calls from voters who are unsure of the ID requirements, and there will likely be more as election day approaches. In Dixon County, where all elections are conducted via mail, ballots will be mailed to voters on April 24, and Stilwell said she expects to get some calls after that.
Wayne County Clerk Debra Finn stands at a display of voter information, including brochures on Nebraska's new voter ID law, at the Wayne Count…
The main thing voters who plan to vote in person early or at the polls on May 14 need to remember is to bring their driver's license or other form of approved photo ID.
"It's really not that complicated. Just show up with your ID," Conley said. "Everybody seems to have a photo ID with them."
Voters who forget their ID can vote provisionally, then must return to the clerk's office within a week to show their ID so their ballot can be counted.
In counties that conduct mail-only elections such as Dixon County or Wayne County in precincts outside of the city of Wayne, voters must write their ID number on their ballot return envelope or enclose a photocopy of their ID. That number will be checked against the number on file with the voter's registration, as well as the voter's signature. If there is a discrepancy, voters have a week to correct it.
Finn said she's heard no complaints from voters about the changes.
"We've had a lot of positive feedback from voters. They believe it was time Nebraska did this," she said.