Last Wednesday, the 107th Nebraska Legislature convened for its first session. Every senator was eager to get started and begin the process of bill introduction.

Among my first bills introduced in this session is LR3CA. This is a constitutional amendment that would allow Nebraskans vote on whether photo identification should be required to vote. Standing alone, this provision does not require voter ID. Rather, it leaves the decision up to you, the voters of Nebraska. 

We live in a time where a person must produce identification to buy cold medicine or spray paint. It simply does not make sense that we do not ask the same of a person exercising their most important duty to their country. The Secretary of State estimates that 25,000 registered voters in Nebraska do not already have some acceptable form of photo identification. We could provide identification to these people, for voting purposes only, for free at a total cost of $50,000. This seems like a very reasonable cost to add a necessary layer of security to our elections.

Voter ID is not a novel idea. Thirty-five states already have some sort of voter ID laws in place. This includes our neighboring states of South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. These states have realized the importance of a secure and fair election, and have taken this positive step to protect their voters from fraud. Our own Legislature has also considered the measure as recently as last year in Senator La Grone’s LR292CA.

Voter ID is a common-sense approach to securing our elections from fraud. Our proposed system would not disenfranchise any voter in Nebraska. Rather, it would add a reasonable layer of added security to our elections. My hope is that this amendment will increase voter confidence in our election system, and protect our elections from fraudulent votes. I am eager to work with my colleagues to get this measure passed.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.