Primary ballots feature Voter ID, other changes

HARTINGTON – Nebraska’s statewide primary on May 14 will be the first election in Nebraska requiring voters to show proof of identification.

Voters in Cedar County can expect this change and a few others when they receive ballots later this week.

The Cedar County Clerk’s Office mailed ballots to registered voters April 24. Voters can expect smaller envelopes this election year with ballots folded inside, said Jessica Schmit, Cedar County clerk.

There are two options for presenting a photo ID when voting by mail. The first option is writing your driver’s license or state ID number under the envelope flap in the voter ID section. The privacy flap will shield ID information and signature and will only be visible to the county election office.

The second option is photocopying an ID and inserting that photocopy into the ballot return envelope with the ballot.

Voters only need to do one or the other - write their ID number or send a photocopy of the ID - not both, Schmit said.

Acceptable IDs include a Nebraska driver’s license; Nebraska state ID; U.S. passport; military ID; tribal ID; hospital, assisted-living facility or nursing home record; Nebraska college ID; or an ID from a political subdivision. IDs must include name and photo. Expired IDs are accepted.

“If identification requirements are not met, our office will contact the voter to let them know what is needed of them and by when,” Schmit said.

Voters needing to fix an issue with their ID have seven days after an election to fix it.

Schmit said the clerk’s office will be checking the ID portion of the ballots as they come in and she doesn’t expect delays to election results due to ID errors.

Voters have the opportunity to mail back ballots or drop them off at the clerk’s office or in the dropbox on the east side of the courthouse.

“Any time they can do that, they’re going to save the county some money,” Schmit said as the county only pays postage for those returned by mail.

There are a number of voters who receive their ballot by mail but choose to fill out and return their ballot in person at the clerk’s office. These voters can present their ID at the clerk’s office while casting their ballots.

Randolph voters residing in Pierce County will also present their IDs at their polling place.

Schmit encourages anyone to call the clerk’s office with questions. A brochure about Voter ID is available in English and Spanish at voterID. nebraska.gov, along with other education materials.

Nebraskans can get a free state ID from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles by providing a copy of their certified Nebraska birth certificate. A birth certificate alone is not a valid form of ID for voting.