VOTER ID in NEBRASKA
Starting April 1, 2024, Nebraska voters will be required to present valid photo identification in order to vote.
The first statewide election under the new law will be the May 14, 2024, primary election. Here’s what you need to know.
Registering to vote
The new voter ID law does NOT change Nebraska’s existing voter registration process.
If you are already registered to vote, you do NOT need to re-register.
- Your U.S. citizenship and your eligibility to vote are confirmed when you register.
- You must be a U.S. citizen who is 18 years of age or older.
- If you have been previously convicted of a felony, you must be off probation for at least two years before you are allowed to re-register to vote.
- Check your voter registration status here.
Obtaining valid ID
- The new law waives the costs of a state photo ID for voting for any eligible voter in need of a valid ID.
- You will need to present a copy of your birth certificate or other identifying documents to your local Nebraska DMV office.
- The new law also waives the costs of one copy of a birth certificate for Nebraska residents via the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Using valid ID
To vote, you must present an ID with your photo and your name.
Under the new law, you can use an ID issued by:
- the federal government, including a U.S. passport.
- the State of Nebraska, such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID.
- any Nebraska college or university.
- local governments within the State of Nebraska.
- the U.S. military, or IDs for veterans.
- Native tribes.
- patient records with photos from nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
The new law also allows for the acceptance of expired IDs in the above categories.
Popular types of IDs that are NOT accepted include:
- out-of-state driver’s licenses and state IDs.
- photo IDs from out-of-state educational institutions.
- IDs from private organizations, such as your workplace.
- any ID without a photo, such as a Social Security card.
Several resources can assist you in gathering the documents you need to obtain an ID to vote, including:
IF YOU VOTE IN PERSON
In-person, day-of voters must present an ID with a photo and their name.
- At your polling place, you must present an ID with a photo and your name.
Under the new law, you can use an ID issued by:
- the federal government, including a U.S. passport.
- the State of Nebraska, such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID.
- any Nebraska college or university.
- local governments within the State of Nebraska.
- the U.S. military, or IDs for veterans.
- Native tribes.
- patient records with photos from nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
The new law also allows for the acceptance of expired IDs in the above categories.
- If you have a reasonable impediment that prevents your access to a photo ID, you may complete a form called a “reasonable impediment certificate” that identifies your impediment and exempts you from the ID requirement.
- A ‘reasonable impediment’ includes disabilities or religious objections.
- Federal case law prevents states from restricting citizens with reasonable impediments from participating in elections.
IF YOU VOTE
BY MAIL
Early mail-in voters must write in their driver’s license number or the number on their state-issued ID card.
- When requesting your early mail-in ballot, you must write your driver’s license or approved state ID number on the early mail-in ballot request form.
– or –
- You can enclose a photocopy of your state-approved photo ID with your early mail-in ballot request form.
– or – - If you are using a different form of ID, such as a passport or nursing home record, you must submit a photocopy of the document when requesting the early mail-in ballot.
- If you have a reasonable impediment that prevents your access to a photo ID, you may apply for a certificate that verifies your impediment and exempts you from the ID requirement.
IF YOU LACK
VALID I.D.
Voters can still cast a provisional ballot, but must produce valid ID within a week of the election for their vote to count.
Several resources can assist you in gathering the documents you need to obtain an ID to vote, including:
- While valid ID is required to vote on Election Day, there are measures in the new law that can allow you to vote. If you do not have the required identification, you will be allowed to vote via a provisional ballot.
- You then must then present a valid ID to election officials by the Tuesday after Election Day for your ballot to be counted.
- If you have a reasonable impediment that prevents your access to a photo ID, you may complete a form called a “reasonable impediment certificate” that identifies your impediment and exempts you from the ID requirement.
- A ‘reasonable impediment’ includes disabilities or religious objections.
- Federal case law prevents states from restricting citizens with reasonable impediments from participating in elections.
LINKS, RESOURCES, and ELECTION INFO
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