Setting the Record Straight on Nebraska’s Voter ID Law

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

By Steve Halloran

Former Nebraska State Senator, District 33

In politics, there is a common saying that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan. As Nebraska’s new voter ID requirements take effect, Secretary of State Bob Evnen has been remarkably active in claiming paternity. In campaign materials and public statements, Evnen has positioned himself as the primary architect of the law, taking credit for everything from the initial petition drive to the final legislative product.

However, a review of the public record and a look at the frustration of the very activists who started this movement reveals a different story. The Secretary is not only claiming credit for work he didn't do; he is taking a victory lap on a version of the law that many feel betrays the original intent of the voters.

The push for voter ID in Nebraska did not begin in the Secretary of State’s office. It began with a well-funded petition drive led by "Citizens for Voter ID." This effort was fueled by nearly $2 million from private donors, aimed at enshrining a clear, constitutional requirement for photo identification. At the time, Evnen’s role was purely administrative: verifying signatures and placing the measure on the ballot.

Once the petition passed overwhelmingly in 2022, the mandate was clear. But that is where the "integrity" of the process began to unravel.

While Evnen now brands himself a "champion" of the law, true election integrity advocates tell a different story. To many who spent years fighting for a "hard" voter ID requirement, Evnen didn't strengthen the law. He presided over its dilution. During the drafting of LB 514, the Secretary’s office was instrumental in carving out loopholes that effectively usurp the will of the voters.

Rather than the strict photo ID requirement the public intended, the Secretary helped usher in a system riddled with exceptions. The inclusion of broad "reasonable impediment" clauses and the acceptance of expired IDs has left many original supporters feeling that the legitimacy of the constitutional amendment was gutted. To these advocates, Evnen didn’t deliver a secure election system; he helped engineer a watered-down version that bypasses the strict standards the petition sought.

Fortunately, there is a path forward. Candidate Scott Petersen recognizes these fundamental flaws created by the incumbent. Petersen understands that a law full of loopholes is a law that fails to protect the ballot. He has committed to working directly with the Unicameral to fix these administrative gaps and restore the original strength of the voter-approved amendment. Petersen’s goal is simple: ensure the law actually does what Nebraskans asked for, without the political maneuvering that has characterized the current administration.

Nebraskans deserve a Secretary of State who focuses on the impartial administration of our elections and respects the mandates of the people. The voter ID law belongs to the citizens who signed the petitions and the voters who demanded change. It does not belong to an incumbent who helped create the very loopholes that now undermine it.

It is time to set the record straight and restore true integrity to our system. Please vote on May 12th.