Voter ID bill killed

By:  Newsroom
8@klkntv.com

Nebraska lawmakers have effectively killed a bill that would require voters to show government identification at the polls.

Lawmakers who backed the measure fell three votes short Wednesday of the support they needed to overcome a legislative filibuster. The failure to end debate essentially squashes the bill for this legislative session. The bill's sponsor, Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, says he will likely bring it back next year. Janssen says he tried to forge a compromise on the proposal to alleviate concerns that it would put a financial burden on counties, but opponents were not persuaded.

Critics have blasted the proposal as an attempt to keep poor, elderly, disabled and college-aged voters from casting a ballot. Supporters had proposed an amendment that would let voters without identification cast a provisional ballot.