Nebraska passes voter photo ID requirements, called some of the strictest in the nation, with Initiative 432

Nebraskans voted “yes” to Initiative 432 on Tuesday, an amendment requiring voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot. The New York Times made the projection late Tuesday night.

The Photo Voter Identification Initiative passed with xxx% of the vote, The New York Times projected with about 76% of the vote in. This gives Nebraska some of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation, the Omaha World-Herald reported. The amendment applies to in-person voting as well as mail-in ballots, a requirement held by only 14 other states of the 36 with voter ID laws.

Nebraska’s state senators will now be tasked in deciding how and when IDs will be verified, and which types of ID will count.

Voter ID legislation has been introduced to the Nebraska State Senate at least seven times during previous legislative sessions, the Associated Press reported, but none of these bills ever passed. 

Supporters of the initiative, which was spearheaded by Nebraska’s Citizens for Voter ID, argue it will ensure election integrity and help rebuild confidence in the accuracy of the state’s elections. But opponents, such as the Nebraska for Free and Fair Elections movement, say ID requirements discourage elderly, poor and minority voters, who tend to vote for Democratic candidates.

Initiative 432 saw $2,077,500 in support contributions and $69,290.26 in opposition contributions, according to Ballotpedia. Much of these support contributions came from Nebraska’s Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who will be replaced by Republican Jim Pillen, voters decided Tuesday. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reported that 90% of the financing for Initiative 432’s ballot committee came from the family of Ricketts, who has said he believes voter IDs are necessary, despite acknowledging there was no evidence of fraud in Nebraska’s elections. 

Other states like Missouri enacted photo ID laws in advance of Tuesday’s election.