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LB 586

Provide assistance for voters who are unable to vote in person and who are residents of or housed in certain facilities

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ashlei Spivey

LB 586 creates a formal process to allow eligible voters in facilities to vote, guiding coordination, materials, registration, ballot delivery/return, and compliance.

Title printed. Carryover bill
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LB 586

Summary of Nebraska LB 586 (2025)

Overview

LB 586 is a bill introduced by Senator Ashlei Spivey and assigned to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill aims to expand voting access for eligible voters who are unable to vote in person because they are housed in certain facilities. It would amend Section 32-944 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, redefining key terms, and establishing a coordinated process between election officials and facility staff to facilitate voting for restricted individuals.

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Hearing: Notice for March 5, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Senator Ashlei Spivey
  • Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
  • Status: Notice of hearing issued

What the bill does (main purpose)

  • Create a formal process to enable eligible voters who are unable to travel to an in-person voting location because they are housed in certain facilities to vote.
  • Define terms and duties for facilities, election officials, and facility staff to ensure access to voting materials, registration, and ballots.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions:
    • Facility: includes county homes, jails, assisted-living hospitals housing restricted individuals, nursing facilities, city detention centers, rehabilitation centers, etc.
    • Restricted individual: a person unable to vote in person due to an inability to travel.
  • Coordination and duties:
    • Election commissioners/clerks must coordinate with the county sheriff or facility director/staff to facilitate voting for all restricted individuals who are eligible voters.
    • Election officials must train facility staff and provide technical assistance, using Secretary of State materials to develop an election plan.
  • Election plan requirements:
    • Material accessibility: provide voter information materials, list of ID/registration forms, and ensure reasonable access to materials for restricted individuals.
    • Registration and voting process: outline how registration, in-person voting services, ballot delivery, and ballot retrieval will occur.
    • Notice and eligibility: outline how facilities will notify eligible voters of voting dates/times and how voters can verify or change registration, or register if eligible.
    • Access to registration changes: ensure restricted individuals can verify/change/register as needed.
    • Ballot return: designate a ballot return location within the facility for ballots to be collected by two registered voters who are not affiliated with the same political party; inform voters about return methods, locations, and deadlines.
    • Ballot curing: establish a process for addressing and curing ballot deficiencies.
  • Role of facility staff:
    • Sheriff/director/staff must perform duties in accordance with the Election Act.
  • Plan adoption and compliance:
    • Election officials shall adopt procedures to implement the section in line with the Election Act and state rules.
    • Civil penalties may be assessed against noncompliant facility staff by the district court, payable by the county.
  • Additional authority:
    • The election official may train registered voters to assist in administering ballots for residents of nursing homes or hospitals who requested ballots; two registered voters (not from the same party) must administer the ballots.
  • Repeal and reissue:
    • Original Section 32-944 would be repealed and reissued with the revised statute.

Who/what is affected

  • Affected individuals: Eligible voters housed in facilities who cannot vote in person due to travel limitations.
  • Facilities and staff: County jails, nursing/hospital facilities, assisted-living hospitals, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, and equivalent housing.
  • Election officials: County election commissioners/clerks and county sheriffs/directors/staff.
  • Voters and registered voters: Those assisting with ballots (two non-partisan voters) and those voting through facility-based processes.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Referred to Committee: January 24, 2025
  • Notice of hearing: February 24, 2025
  • Hearing date: March 5, 2025

Potential impact

  • Expands access to voting for individuals who are constrained by facility-based housing.
  • Formalizes collaboration between election offices and facility staff.
  • Introduces structured processes for registration, ballot delivery/return, and ballot curing within facilities.
  • Establishes penalties for noncompliance to incentivize proper implementation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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