Gale hopes online registration, mail-in ballots boost turnout

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale hopes to increase voter turnout by allowing online registration and expanding on the use of all-mail ballots in special elections.

Gale visited McCook Wednesday and said he intended to seek legislative approval in the coming session for online registration and believed the Internet could help the state reach out to more voters.

"Hopefully it will be a big convenience, voters wouldn't have to secure a paper form or even go to their county office," said Gale. Gale said he planned to confirm the online submissions by asking legislators to allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to populate the voter database with driver's license numbers and the last four digits of citizen's social security number.

"This will help authenticate citizenship and ensure valid and appropriate registration," said Gale, adding that he needed legislative authorization to do it.

Gale's office also plans to revise the paper voter registration form to make it easier to use and understand, all in an effort to increase voter turnout.

"Your vote counts. A number of citizens don't think it makes a difference and as a result vote infrequently. For a strong democracy it starts at the bottom, the more vibrant we are at a local level, the stronger we are as a national representative government," said Gale.

Gale said voters could see immediate consequences of their vote on a local level and he hoped to encourage the local vote not only by way of the Internet, but also by expanding on all-mail balloting procedures.

In 2004 legislation was passed allowing special elections for non-candidate issues to be conducted exclusively by mail. The special elections focus primarily on economic issues, such as sales tax and bond issues, according to Gale.

"In 2012 we had 15 of those on special ballot, 10 of which were mail in ballot. The mail in ballots had a 49 percent voter turnout, which was higher than the non-mail in ballots," said Gale.

Gale said mail in balloting was generally more affordable then typical polling centers as well.

"We are seeing general success in broadening the base of citizens that are making decisions that impact their community. It is so much more important to have a broader base reach, than a narrower base, when you have precinct elections. It strengthens turnout, gives citizens ownership in the decision and helps voters realize it does make a difference when you vote," said Gale.

Gale said local turnout helps participation in state elections and considering the success they were seeing on economic issues, he wanted to broaden the all-mail option to candidate issues as well.

"Currently recall or special elections have to go to ballot. It is just as important to have a broader base in those areas as well," said Gale.

The 2004 legislation limits the all-mail balloting to counties with a population less than 10,000 residents. Gale said that equaled 60 of the 93 counties where it worked well.

"For a lot of our farmers and ranchers it is difficult to get to a voting place. You can't use barns anymore as voting locations have to be ADA accessible, which makes it difficult," said Gale.

Gale wants to allow every county the option to designate their smaller rural districts for the use of all mail ballots and said the larger counties all had small precincts it could be beneficial to.

Gale believes expanding the all mail option will offer greater equality of access, have potential to save taxpayers and be a convenience to voters.