Nebraska Republicans Propose ID Constitutional Amendment
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republicans in the Nebraska Legislature are attempting a new tactic to enact restrictive ID laws in the state. The conservative group Citizens for Voter ID is gathering signatures for a petition that would add a new constitutional amendment on the 2022 midterm elections ballot. The amendment would require voters to provide a photo ID in order to vote. The petition must gather the number of signatures equivalent to 10% of registered voters in order to be included on the 2022 ballot and then must be approved by voters.
Bills to impose new ID requirements to vote have repeatedly failed to pass the Nebraska Legislature, prompting Republicans to pursue new methods to get the provisions passed. Voting rights groups in the state such as the ACLU and Civic Nebraska stand opposed to the constitutional amendment. “The bills have been pushed back and defeated in the legislature for a reason,” said Steve Smith of Civic Nebraska. “It’s because they’re unpopular, because they’re unworkable, because they’re costly.”
Republicans across the country are embracing ballot measures as a way to get their suppressive agenda passed. Republicans in Arizona announced last week that they are gathering signatures for a ballot measure that would impose ID requirements on early ballots, a move that would affect 3 million of the state’s 3.4 million registered voters.