Gov. Heineman Signs Online Voter Registration Bill into Law

(Lincoln, Neb.) Today, Gov. Dave Heineman signed LB 661 into law which will allow Nebraskans to register to vote or update their registrations online. This bill was introduced on behalf of the Secretary of State John Gale, who oversees the state’s elections.
“I’m pleased to sign online voter registration into law,” said Gov. Heineman. “This bill reflects Secretary Gale’s continuing efforts to modernize the process of voter registration through technology. It is important to keep the voting process accessible to Nebraskans, and having this option available through the Secretary of State’s website is a positive step.”
“Nebraska’s new online registration will be unique since we are the first state to combine these processes,” said Secretary Gale. “Online registration has been our goal for some years, but it took the combined efforts of our Governor and the Department of Motor Vehicles to work out the technology challenges, and the support of several key senators to move the bill to passage. I appreciate the efforts of Rhonda Lahm, Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, who was instrumental in helping to combine and streamline our systems.”
LB 661 provides an additional opportunity for citizens of Nebraska to register to vote while increasing the accuracy and enhancing the maintenance of the voter registration database. The registrations would incorporate copies of signatures provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles for driver’s licenses or state identification cards.
Nebraska joins 17 other states that have implemented online voter registration.
The adaptation of the online system is expected to be completed by 2017.