Petersen: Executive Order Reinforces Need for Verifiable, Transparent Elections

OMAHA, NE — Scott Petersen, Republican candidate for Nebraska Secretary of State, today issued the following statement in response to the federal Executive Order on citizenship verification and election integrity:

“Yesterday's Executive Order on citizenship verification and election integrity is a step in the right direction.

At its core, it reinforces a simple principle: elections must be verifiable, transparent, and accountable.

The order focuses on strengthening citizenship verification, improving the accuracy of voter eligibility data, enhancing ballot tracking and auditability, and ensuring election records are preserved for review.

Just as importantly, it builds on laws already in place like the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act which require accurate voter rolls and baseline election standards.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about process.

Voters shouldn’t be asked to simply trust the system. They should be able to verify it.

Here in Nebraska, we’ve had opportunities to strengthen our election systems, but meaningful reforms have not moved forward.

In 2023, I was proud to help advance legislation focused on secure paper ballots, chain-of-custody protections, anti-counterfeiting safeguards, and increased transparency and oversight. These were common-sense steps to build confidence in our elections.

Nebraska has a foundation to build upon, but we have not kept pace with the level of transparency and accountability voters expect.

As Secretary of State, I will ensure our elections are verifiable, transparent, and accountable. I will maintain clean, accurate voter rolls, strengthen chain-of-custody protections, increase public oversight, and take direct responsibility for how elections are administered.”

Petersen said the Executive Order reflects a broader shift toward strengthening verification, accountability, and transparency in election administration across the country.

“The principle is straightforward. Elections must be verifiable,” Petersen said. “This action reinforces that expectation and builds on laws that already require accurate voter rolls and accountable election processes.”

Petersen emphasized that Nebraska should take the lead in restoring confidence in elections by advancing clear, consistent, and transparent standards.

“When common-sense reforms don’t move forward, it sends the wrong message to voters who want confidence in the system,” Petersen said. “We can do better, and we will.”

About Scott Petersen

Scott Petersen is an Omaha businessman and candidate for Nebraska Secretary of State. He is running to restore confidence in elections, modernize state business service systems, and bring accountability and transparency to the office.