ELLEN MORTENSEN

(Information provided by Nebraska Secretary of State Robert D. Evnen)

If you have procrastinated and not yet registered to vote, or relocated and have not yet registered for your new location, you still have about a week to get that done. Deadline for voter registration to participate in the Nov. 8 general election is Oct. 21.

The window is now open for voters who wish to cast an absentee or early mail-in ballot. Nebraska is a “no-excuse” state, meaning any registered voter may request an early-voting (absentee) ballot, and is not required to provide a reason. You can request an early voting ballot by contacting the Custer County Clerk’s office.

Yesterday (Oct. 12) was the first day to be allowed to vote early in-person, which can also be done at the Custer County Clerk’s office. Registered voters may cast an early in-person ballot at their county clerk’s office until the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 7.

The statewide 2022 general election ballot will also allow voters to vote on two Initiatives Measures proposed by petition. By random drawing, the Initiative Measures will be numbered as follows: Voter ID Constitutional Amendment: Initiative Measure 432 Minimum Wage Initiative: Initiative Measure 433 The objective of Measure 432 is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to require that, before casting a ballot in any election, a qualified voter shall present valid photographic identification.

Nebraska is one of only 16 states where no documentation is required to vote, and supporters of Measure 432 say it is time to increase election security measures. Requiring an ID is a common sense move which is already required to do everyday activities like purchase alcohol, board a plane, set up a bank account, apply for government benefits like SNAP or Medicaid, pick up a prescription, and rent or buy a house or car. Those in support of the measure contend that requiring IDs to cast a vote will ensure election integrity and increase voter confidence in the process.

Meanwhile, opponents of the measure argue that this constitutional amendment imposes severe restrictions on your right and ability to vote. They say it is unnecessary, as no cases of voter impersonation have ever been found in Nebraska’s elections. This amendment does not specify the type of ID required and tasks the Legislature to decide. Nebraska voters already are required to provide verification of their identity when registering to vote. Those who oppose Measure 432 contend that in other voter ID states, seniors, low-income, and highly mobile workers are often prevented from voting. At least 54,500 to 70,000 Nebraskans will be immediately affected, plus thousands who carry IDs with out-of-date information. It is a costly fix for a nonexistent problem: a similar bill in 2018 estimated $2.9 million in first-year taxpayer costs and an annual cost of over $750,000.

The object of Measure 433 is to amend Nebraska’s minimum wage law to increase the state minimum wage from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour on Jan. 1, 2023, to $12 per hour on Jan. 1, 2024, to $13.50 per hour on Jan. 1, 2025, and to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026, to be adjusted annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living.

We can all agree that Nebraskans who work hard full time should not have to live in poverty. Those who support Measure 433 say that right now, working families can’t make ends meet because wages haven’t kept up and parents can’t afford to pay rent and put food on the table at today’s minimum wage of $9 an hour, just $18,000 a year.

Supporters of the measure contend that the wage increase will benefit people employed as home care aides, school aids, waitstaff, and skilled assembly line workers as well as thousands of children in Nebraska whose working parents make less than $15 per hour. When a minimum wage worker in Nebraska gets a small raise, that’s money that goes directly into Nebraska communities, small businesses, and the local economy.

However, not everyone agrees that the minimum wage increase is a good thing for Nebraska. The minimum wage was never meant to be a “living wage,” but an “entry level” wage for young people or first-time workers, opponents to the measure say. These wage increases are a 66.7% surge over three years and will increase inflation.

Opponents of 433 contend that most minimum wage jobs are with small businesses or franchisees and those owners cannot afford higher wages. This hits rural Nebraska harder where the cost of living is lower. This increase causes employers to raise prices for their product or service and pass those costs onto consumers. Increasing the wage every year will force businesses to “step-up” their other salaries, which is also inflationary. A higher minimum wage forces companies to reduce their workforce and increase automation, opponents argue. This measure forces increases for tipped wage employees. Some small businesses will close because they can’t afford the new mandatory wage.

On Nov. 8, you will get a chance to make your opinion on both of these measures count. No matter whether you support one and not the other, support both, or oppose both - the important thing is to vote!