This legislative bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to improve governance and election processes within villages and political subdivisions. Key provisions include a new duty for village boards of trustees to authorize village clerks to prepare claims and issue warrants when board vacancies exceed half of the members. The bill also changes the notification process for election workers from mailed letters to written notices and allows candidates to update their names on ballots following legal name changes. Additionally, it eliminates certain provisions related to initiative and referendum petitions, harmonizes existing laws, and permits the cancellation of special elections under specific circumstances.

The bill further enhances voter participation by allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections of political parties, provided they file the necessary documentation with the Secretary of State. It modifies election notice requirements, mandates publication in a newspaper of general circulation, and adjusts precinct management for flexibility. The bill also introduces stricter identification requirements for voting, including the necessity for voters to sign an oath on their identification envelope and ensures that ballots returned without proper identification will not be counted. Other amendments focus on the recount process, electioneering regulations, and the handling of election materials, all aimed at increasing transparency and integrity in the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 32-101, 32-228, 32-235, 32-559, 32-617, 32-622.01, 32-624, 32-624.01, 32-802, 32-803, 32-903, 32-912, 32-915.03, 32-917, 32-942, 32-945, 32-947, 32-948, 32-949, 32-949.01, 32-953, 32-956, 32-957, 32-1002.01, 32-1013, 32-1031, 32-1032, 32-1034, 32-1035, 32-1044, 32-1119, 32-1121, 32-1203, 32-1516, 32-1524, 79-3405