Election Modernization

The right to vote is the centerpiece of our democracy. Regardless of political party, Nebraskans want free and fair elections in which every eligible citizen can participate.

Automatic voter registration is key to increasing participation and amplifying citizens’ voices in the political process. Automatic voter registration shifts the burden of voter registration from the individual to the state, as is done in many developed democracies around the world.

Automatic voter registration (AVR) ensures that all eligible persons can vote unless they opt-out of being added to the rolls. It makes registration more efficient for voters and election administrators, and voter lists more accurate. AVR provides:

• Enhanced inclusivity. Automatic voter registration adds to the voter rolls every eligible citizen who interacts with state agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles — unless they decline. This simple swap from an opt-in to an opt-out system could bring hundreds of thousands of new eligible voters to the polls on Election Day.
• Increased accuracy. For those already registered, AVR will update the voter’s contact information, making sure our rolls are as up-to-date as possible. We’ve already seen how big a difference this can make — in Oregon, AVR updated 265,000 incorrect addresses in just its first 6 months.