LINCOLN — As the nation struggles over its last election, a Nebraska lawmaker introduced two election measures Thursday guaranteed to generate battles here.
Legislative Bill 76 would return Nebraska to the winner-take-all method of allocating Electoral College votes. Legislative Resolution 3CA is a constitutional amendment that, if passed by voters, would require photo identification for voting.
State Sen. Julie Slama of Peru offered both proposals on the first day of bill introduction in the 2021 session. In a statement, she described them as “common-sense measures” that would improve the state’s election laws.
“LB76 will end the practice of gerrymandering in our state for Electoral College votes and give all Nebraska voters a say in how our five Electoral College votes should be distributed,” she said. “LR3CA will give Nebraskans the opportunity to join 35 other states requiring an identification to vote and provide another layer of security for our elections.”
Both drew sharp criticism from opponents, including the ACLU of Nebraska, the Holland Children’s Movement and the Nebraska Democratic Party.
State ACLU Director Danielle Conrad drew a link between the proposals and “what we witnessed in our nation’s capital: leaders putting politicians over voters and perpetuating false narratives.”
“Now more than ever, it’s incumbent on us all to fiercely protect our free and fair elections in Nebraska,” she said. “We need to expand — not contract — voting rights because every American knows voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest.”
Jane Kleeb, chair of the state Democratic Party, said that Slama is carrying “(Gov. Pete) Ricketts’ partisan bills as payback for the boatloads of money he spent to get her elected” and that most Nebraskans are more concerned about issues like COVID-19, climate change and young people leaving the state.
Nebraska Republicans have pushed both ideas for years. State GOP Chairman Dan Welch said the proposals enjoy “broad support across the state and the Legislature would do well to follow Senator Slama’s lead on them.”
Returning to a winner-take-all system has been a party priority since Nebraska abandoned that method in 1991. The state awards three of its five electoral votes based on the popular vote in each of its three congressional districts. The other two votes go to the statewide winner.
“A winner-take-all system would combine our political strength and put us on an equal playing field with virtually every other state in the union,” Welch said.
But Conrad said the change would discourage voters by “signaling ... that their votes for president and vice president carry less importance.”
The state has split its vote twice, first in 2008, when the Omaha-area’s 2nd District went to Democrat Barack Obama and the other votes went to Republican John McCain, and again last year, when the 2nd District went to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and the rest went to GOP President Donald Trump.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states that allow their electoral votes to be split.
Voter identification became an issue about 10 years ago and has met with equally stiff opposition. Slama’s proposal mirrors a measure introduced last year by former Sen. Andrew La Grone of Gretna.
It would amend the Nebraska Constitution to require that poll workers “review a photograph or digital image” of each voter to verify that person’s identity before allowing that person to vote.
Welch said the measure responds to voter concerns about election security and “would provide a needed check against fraud at the ballot box, which is a major priority for our country.”
But the Holland Children’s Movement tweeted that requiring voter ID amounts to voter suppression and is a “solution in search of a problem.”
Slama’s proposal does not address mail-in ballots, which became a Trump target during the last election. He and other Republicans claimed that there were rampant opportunities for fraud with mail-in ballots. But Nebraska officials defended the security of the state’s mail-in voting.
Slama’s proposal does not provide specifics about the photographs that could be used for identification, either.
Photos: The Nebraska State Capitol through the years
The Sower ascends to top of Nebraska State Capitol in April 1930.
APRIL 1930: Workers prepare "The Sower" for installation atop the Capitol dome. A 19½-foot figure on a 12½-foot pedestal of bundles of wheat and corn was an integral part of the State Capitol’s architecture.
Terry Lane, dressed as Buffalo Bill Cody, gives a speech to celebrate Nebraska's 150th anniversary of statehood at the State Capitol Rotunda on March 1, 2017, in Lincoln.
A detail carved in stone around the doorway in the Nebraska Supreme Court is seen on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln. The same corn detail is used throughout the Capitol building.
Dressed in old west lawman attire, Frank Murcek looks at the busts on display at the State Capitol in Lincoln on March 1, 2017. Murcek was there to help celebrate Nebraska's 150th anniversary of statehood.
People gather and take their seats before Gov. Pete Ricketts delivers his State of the State address on Jan. 12, 2017, at the State Capitol.
Over the bench of the Nebraska Supreme Court is a proposed state seal that was never adopted, done in polychrome on stone.
Larry Bare, the longest serving chief of state (to the governor) in the state's history, in his office at the State Capitol in Lincoln on Nov. 20, 2014.
A buffalo medalion in the bronze door grills on the north side of the Capitol is seen on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Signs of the zodiac set in a chandelier hanging over the Rotunda, seen on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
People tour the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on May 18, 2017.
The Betsy Riot group protests the lack of funding for Planned Parenthood prior to the start of the final day of the Nebraska Legislative session at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on April 18, 2018.
For 10 days, the Nebraska state flag, which is hoisted over the State Capitol's west side when lawmakers are in session, flew upside down. On Feb. 1, 2017, it was back to flying right-side up on the west side of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Gail Brolliar of Lincoln walks past the fountain at Centennial Mall North in Lincoln on July 13, 2016.
Power and Mercy from the north side of the Capitol is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Looking down one of the halls of fame at the State Capitol in 2016.
In the Capitol's Great Hall, part of the "Four Ages of Man" "Childhood," is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Chairs in the governor's hearing room are seen here on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. The keeper of the State Capitol is defending the $1,900 per chair cost of renovating historic chairs in the governor's hearing room as cost-effective in the long run. Bob Ripley compared it to the $1,400 cost of chairs for legislative hearing rooms -- chairs that have now lasted 24 years without replacement.
An aerial view of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, on Sept. 26, 2009.
The State Capitol can be seen from the club level of East Memorial Stadium on Aug. 22, 2013.
From the Capitol's Great Hall, "Youth" from the "Four Stages of Man" is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Nebraska Chief Justice Mike Heavican speaks at the State Capitol on Jan. 18, 2018, in Lincoln. Chief Justice Mike Heavican gave his 11th annual State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature.
1965: The Abraham Lincoln statue at the west entrance of the State Capitol building.
From the Capitol's Great Hall, "Maturity" from the "Four Stages of Man" is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Tony Ripa sketches in a hallway of the Nebraska Capitol for a University of Nebraska architecture class on March 1, 2017, in Lincoln.
Justinian Caesar peeks out from work on the south side of the Capitol is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
Senators look on during the Unicameral Legislature at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Dan Snarr of Stansbury Park, Utah, with Atlas Bronze Casting, and Craig Anderson with Kingery Construction Co., are among the crew members installing a giant bronze bowl part of a fountain in the south west courtyard of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, Friday, March 17, 2017.
Matt Hansen, left, a preservation architect and project manager with the Office of the Capitol Commission, Dan Snarr, second from left, of Stansbury Park, Utah, with Atlas Bronze Casting, Nebraska Capitol Administrator Robert C. Ripley, second from right, of the Office of the Capitol Commission and Craig Anderson with Kingery Construction Co., look on during the installation of a giant bronze bowl part of a fountain in the south west courtyard of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, Friday, March 17, 2017.
The north side of the Capitol with the "Pioneer Panel" above the door with a bronze screen is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
The vote tally board with the names of the freshmen senators added. Capitol staffers prepare for the start of the 2017 legislative session at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on Jan. 3, 2017.
From the Capitol's Great Hall, "Old Age" from the "Four Stages of Man" is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
A detail of a wolf carved into the fireplace in the old senate lounge is seen here on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
At left, the gold leaf design inlaid on walnut planking shines in contrast to the right side yet to be cleaned during restoration of the Legislative Chamber of the State Capitol involving the removal of 80 years worth of water damage and dirt from the ceiling and walls on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
A western meadowlark carved in white onyx on the rotunda balcony glows as a beam of sunlight illuminates it from behind on Nov. 17, 2009, in Lincoln.
State Sen. John Nelson of District 06 talks in a booth just off the floor of the legislature before the start of the Thursday, April 10, 2014, session at the Nebraska State Capitol building in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Seated beneath a recently-cleaned portion of shining gold leaf designs, Chris Shelton of the Boston-based restoration company Robert Mussey Associates prepares the walnut beams on the ceiling of the Legislative Chamber of the State Capitol for resurfacing on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Lincoln, Nebraska. A restoration project to clean 80 years of water damage and dirt from the walls and ceiling of the chamber is currently under way and aims to be finished before the legislative session begins in January.
2000: Exterior of the scaffolding-clad Nebraska State Capitol. The Capitol was surrounded by scaffolding, for the first time in its history, as part of an eight-year, $21 million renovation project to the landmark.
Matt Hansen, left, a preservation architect and project manager with the Office of the Capitol Commission, and Craig Anderson and Scott Morrow with Kingery Construction Co., look on during the installation of a giant bronze bowl part of a fountain in the south west courtyard of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska.
People gather in the Nebraska State Capitol's northeast courtyard for the dedication of the Capitol fountains in 2017.
Onlookers watch one of the Capitol Fountains turn on the first time during their dedication at the Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sept. 22, 2017.
Sydney Carl sketches in the Warner Legislative Chamber for an architecture class at UNL on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The chamber, which normally isn't open, was overlow for the celebration of Nebraska's 150th anniversary of statehood at the State Capitol.
The Nebraska State Capitol building's Sower statue is framed by fall leaves on Nov. 6, 2014, in Lincoln.
Scaffolding in the Legislative Chamber of the State Capitol spans every area of the walls and ceiling with decking at seven foot intervals during restoration involving the removal of 80 years worth of water damage and dirt from the ceiling and walls on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The chandeliers were lowered, desks boarded up and gallery seats covered for protection during the project.
Attendees of the Nebraska State Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing fill the lower and upper levels of the Rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol as the North Star Choreographed Choir performs. The 65th Annual Nebraska State Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing took place in the Rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Dec. 9, 2012.
Busts lining the capitol's hall of fame appear to be watching a group of visitors to the capitol.
Chairs in the governor's hearing room are seen here on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. The keeper of the State Capitol is defending the $1,900 per chair cost of renovating historic chairs in the governor's hearing room as cost-effective in the long run. Bob Ripley compared it to the $1,400 cost of chairs for legislative hearing rooms -- chairs that have now lasted 24 years without replacement.
Earlier viewers take their a bird's eye view of the George W. Norris Legislative Chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, before the start of the first legislative session of the year, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The sun shines on the Nebraska State Capitol the day before the legislative session begins in Lincoln, Nebraska, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.
Eric Bright, of Lincoln, enters the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Nebraska Hall of Fame author and historian Mari Sandoz's bust in a hallway in the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. The bust is seen here on April 8, 1998.
Jacob Mason talks about LB 300 during the Unicameral Youth Legislature in the Warner Legislative Chamber in the Nebraska State Capitol on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, Lincoln, Nebraska.
2016: Raised to the top of the Capitol dome on April 24, 1930, "The Sower" features a barefoot man with his shirtsleeves and pants rolled up and wearing a sun hood. The 3/8-inch-thick bronze sculpture is reinforced by an interior steel framework and weighs nearly 9½ tons.
Index Clerk Carol Koranda prepares the Unicameral chambers for Wednesday, when the new legislative session starts, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013.
2018: A $106 million renovation project included replacing windows at the State Capitol Building.
Tatiana Luepnitz, 11, of Lincoln cools off while playing in the Capitol Fountain at Centennial Mall north of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
2018: A $106 million HVAC renovation project spanning eight years is underway at the Nebraska State Capitol.
Nebraska lawmakers return to the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the opening of the 2012 legislative session on Wednesday Jan. 4, 2012.
People walk the halls on Feb. 17, 2015 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska.
martha.stoddard@owh.com, 402-670-2402, twitter.com/stoddardOWH
Martha Stoddard
Martha Stoddard keeps legislators honest from The World-Herald's Lincoln bureau, where she covers news from the State Capitol. Follow her on Twitter @StoddardOWH. Phone: 402-670-2402
