On September 6, 2024, Lincoln South Rotary Club heard from Lancaster Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen on the topic of Voter ID.
Click here to view Todd's presentation slides but read below to also read the comments he added during the meeting.
Todd said they are starting to process the voter registrations sent in by card. This is a manual process requiring a number of temporary staff.
Though 95% of the voters will use their driver's license or state-issued ID, the law provides for various other ID forms. IDs such as:
- - Nebraska Driver's license or State ID receipt that includes your photo
- - Nebraska Political Subdivision - State or county employment ID; Public high school ID
- - Issued by US Government - US Passport or Passport Card
- - Ids issued by the US Department of Defense (military) or Veteran's Affairs
- - IDs issued by recognized tribes
- - FACE sheet maintained by care facilities and nursing homes
There are three primary components to make and ID valid:
- - issued by one of the entities above
- - contains the name
- - contains the photo
Todd explained that they have made it fairly easy.
The purpose is to make sure that the person that is voting is who they say they are. Rather than put obstacles in place - they have found ways to accept IDs.
Names on the IDs do not need to match 100% to the voter registration information on file. An ID can be accepted:
- - with the use of a nick name or shortened name
- - the use of a middle name instead of official first name
- - not case sensitive
- - previous last name
Ids can be expired -he pointed out that even if a person is no longer driving - keep your Driver's license.
They will not be looking at addresses - whether the ID has the same address as the current voter registration record.
Items that are not acceptable as Voter ID:
- - Private Organization IDs or membership cards
- - Out of state Driver's license or state ID
- - anything without a photo - Medicare, Social Security
He said nobody needs to pay to be able to vote. Though we cannot waive fees for items needed from other states, we have waived them for items issued in Nebraska.
The DMV will issue free state IDs should a person state that they need it for voter ID.
He did point out that a person should not apply for a State ID if you have a Driver's License - the State ID would invalidate the Driver's License.
If you need a birth certificate to apply for a State ID, the DHHS Vital Records will provide that at no charge if you state you need it for voter ID.
A person can also complete a Reasonable Impediment Certification for reasons such as:
- - religious objection to being photographed
- - disability / illness
- - lack of birth certificate
What to do at the polling place. You must present your valid id to vote.
The poll worker will greet you as usual and look up your name. If there are no issues with the ID, you can vote as usual.
If the voter does not have an acceptable voter ID with them or has a Reasonable Impediment to obtaining an ID, they can vote provisionally using Provisional Voter identification Verification process. With that process, they can vote and their ballot is put in a special envelope with their name and sealed. They have 24 hours to come to the Election Commissioner and present the valid ID. At that point the ballot will be opened and processed.
Todd said that during the Primary Election there were only 8 people that did not have their ID. Of those, 4 did come in the next day to present their ID.
BIO
Todd Wiltgen was appointed as the Lancaster County Election Commissioner in February 2023. Most recently he served as the public policy specialist for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that, he represented District 5 on the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners from 2015 through 2018. He has held staffing roles for former State Senator Mark Kolterman, U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel.
Wiltgen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Kearney.