NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — On November 8, Nebraska voters will make the decision about the Voter ID Initiative.

Voting "Yes" would mean amending the state constitution to require valid photo identification in order to vote and authorize the state legislature to pass laws to specify the photo identification requirements. By voting "No," Nebraskans would be opposing this amendment, thereby maintaining that voters do not need to present photo identification in order to vote.

As it is required by law, the Secretary of State, Bob Evnen, is holding public hearings at the three congressional districts for the two ballot initiatives appearing on the ballot for the November 8th general elections, those include the Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (433) and the Voter ID Initiative (432).

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Evnen held the Congressional District 3 public Hearing in North Platte on Thursday. The Congressional District 1 hearing will happen in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 18th. (Nebraska State Capitol, Hearing Room 1525). Also, the Congressional District 2 hearing will happen in Omaha on Tuesday Oct. 11. (The Thompson Alumni Center Bootstrapper Hall).

At the hearing in North Platte, Evnen heard from only one person opposing the Voter ID Initiative, and from only one person who supports the initiative.

The Cherry County Commissioner, Tanya Storer, spoke on behalf of Senator Julie Slama, who is in favor of the initiative.

“It’s a common sense, low-cost measure to further secure our elections at a time where the issue is in the front of many Nebraskans' minds," Storer said. "An overwhelming majority of states have successfully implemented voter-ID systems, and we should follow their lead to make our elections as secure as possible.”

Storer said that having the 432 initiative approved would protect the electoral races. She mentioned the case of two Lexington men, who in 2016, were convicted in Dawson County District Court for voting twice in the general election. She said that many local elections across Nebraska have been decided by one vote.

“Even one fraudulent vote can change the outcome of a race,” she said.

In a statement Sen. Slama said, "What's clear to me, after working on this issue as a state lawmaker, is that Nebraskans want voter ID and special interests do not. The special interests may have influence in the Capitol, but the voters and Nebraska's Second House will have the last word."

Governor Pete Ricketts also showed his support to the 432 Initiative stating, "Showing ID when they go to vote, it’s one of the ways we can strengthen the integrity of our elections. It’s a great opportunity for the Second House, the people of Nebraska, to be able to weigh in a way where the legislature has not been able to get it passed."

Mike Forsythe, the project manager of Voting Rights Restorations, said that having voter ID wouldn’t allow many Nebraskans to cast their ballot.

“At least 54,500 voting-age Nebraskans do not have a valid government issue ID that would require to vote under the Initiative 432," Forsythe said.

Storer said 98% of Nebraskans already have photo ID's that could be used for voting.

“We should be able to provide the remaining 2% of Nebraska voters with a free voter ID with a marginal cost to the state," Storer said.

Forsythe said that it would cost the state more that $750,000 each year to maintain the voter ID policy, money he said could go to other things like highways, tax relief, state parks and more.

“As it is, DMV’s in counties in this area aren’t open full-time, and we need to expand hours to accommodate new demand, that’s going to cost millions more, and that’s needless government spending.”

Forsythe added that if approved, the 432 Initiative would be especially difficult for older and low-income individuals, young people, students, and black and brown voters.

“There will be thousands more who think they have a valid ID but don’t,” Forsythe said. “We should take this very seriously. This is not a partisan issue. This is a constitutional issue, and we can’t just casually throw away our rights in exchange for useless security theater.”

If approved by voters, the legislature would then need to take action.

“The constitutional amendment explicitly says that voter ID is required, and then the legislature is required in turn to enact on laws that implement it," Evnen said.

It's not completely clear yet what laws the legislature would implement. A total of 35 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show an ID at the polls.

“Initiative 432, if passed by the voters of Nebraska, would add another layer of security to our elections," Storer said.

“Voter ID is government bureaucracy at its worst," Forsythe said. "Now is the time for Nebraskans to stand up for our state’s values, honesty, fairness and duty to one another by voting against Initiative 432."

You can now get early ballots sent to you. The polls will be open on November 8.