May 21, 2020

Nebraska senator seeks remote voting option for legislators

Posted May 21, 2020 2:47 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who’s worried about the spread of the coronavirus is calling for a legislative rule change that would allow state senators to vote on bills remotely when this year’s session resumes on July 20.

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln, sent a memo to her fellow lawmakers arguing for the change.

Legislative leaders have said the Nebraska Constitution requires state lawmakers to vote in-person.

Pansing Brooks made a similar argument in March, just before lawmakers briefly reconvened to approve emergency state funding to fight the coronavirus.