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Secret balloting may change in Nebraska Legislature

By John Nixon

12/13/2022

(KLZA)-- Those wanting to end the secret ballot voting in the Nebraska Legislature say they have enough votes to get the rules changed in the 2023 session which begins January 4. Seventeen new state senators will take their seats that day.

Even if that happens, there is no guarantee the effort would succeed under the current Legislative structure.

Backers of change say secret ballots prevent the elections from being decided on partisan lines, while other argue it undermines transparency.

The secret ballots are used in voting for committee chair people. There are 14 standing committees in the Nebraska Legislature. Those committee chairs hold the majority of the body's political power.

Under the secret ballot system, Democrats in the Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, are sometimes chosen by their peers to chair committees.

While the debate has gone on for years, supporters of secret ballots have been able to thwart efforts to change the rules.

It would take 25 votes, which is a majority of the legislative body to change the rules. Supports say they have that number of votes.

First District State Senator Julie Slama said by having a secret ballot, “we are keeping Nebraskans from the knowledge that we have promised them. She calls it “demeaning to all Nebraskan's who have a right to know what their representatives are voting for.”

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