What Kansas's SAVE Law Can Teach Nebraska

Our neighbors in Kansas are taking a structured approach to voter-list maintenance that Nebraska should study.

Earlier this year, Kansas enacted the SAVE Kansas Act. The law requires the Secretary of State to compare the statewide voter-registration system with the federal SAVE database twice a year, including at least one check 180 days before a regularly scheduled federal general election. County election officials then review potential noncitizen matches.

Importantly, Kansas does not treat a database match as automatic proof of ineligibility. The law requires notice before cancellation, further verification of citizenship status, and removal only when an individual is confirmed to be ineligible.

Kansas also requires an annual public report showing how many records were checked, how many potential noncitizen matches were identified, how many ultimately resulted in removals, and what statutory or administrative improvements may be needed.

There has been disagreement over the law. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the legislation, raising concerns about eligible voters and the sharing of information from public-assistance programs. The Legislature subsequently overrode her veto.

Nebraska does not need to copy another state word for word. But there are principles here worth examining:

Verify regularly. Investigate potential discrepancies. Protect due process. Remove confirmed ineligible registrations according to law. Report the results publicly.

Accurate voter rolls and protecting eligible voters are not competing objectives. A good system should do both.