Voters urged to update information

Last fall County Clerk Cathy Sibal received correspondence from True the Vote, a national non-profit advocacy group dedicated to finding and prosecuting voter fraud.

“Dear Voter Registration Officer, I am writing to notify you that based on True the Vote’s research, your county is in apparent violation of Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act,” the letter stated, “while the Office of United States Attorney General may enforce the list maintenance requirements of Section 8 of the NVRA to ensure that ineligible voters are not participating in the political process, it has not done so in any state for years. Therefore, True the Vote has taken on the task of notifying you of your county’s apparent violation.”

The group requested Kimball County’s clerk to then compare her numbers and information to that information given to the group by the Election Assistance Commission and to give explanation to any differences in their findings.

According to Sibal, she and her crew spent many hours reviewing the entire county’s voter information and searching the information that the group had requested.

Following the exhaustive search and review, Sibal responded to the organization via email.

“In response to your letter, I strongly disagree with your accusations that Kimball County is failing to comply with Section 8 of the NVRA,” it read in bold print. “Please examine the enclosed reports showing maintenance of Kimball County Voter Registration Records. I believe in all fairness your organization should give me the figures that you are comparing the number of Kimball County Voters with. One staff member, Mrs. Jenna Miller, dedicates a considerable amount of her time to maintenance of the voter registration records in Kimball County, Nebraska, on a regular basis... (she) exhausts every effort to contact persons that may have information about voters that have moved.”

Sibal’s return correspondence was also sent to the Honorable John A. Gale, Secretary of State, in Lincoln.

“As an Election Official in Kimball County, Nebraska, I take pride in being a part of the election process, and I can assure you that I conduct a reasonable effort to maintain voter registration lists free from deceased, ineligible (felons) and voters who moved away,” the email concluded, “I trust I have satisfied your concerns.”

Sibal said the organization has not given her the numbers they are using, but are alleging that the county list more voters than are counted on the census.

She called the Federal Election Assistant Commission ( FEAC) to ask how the numbers are calculated, stating that in doing so – she was hopeful to get the situation resolved, but with no avail.

According to Sibal, there were six additional Nebraska counties that received the same correspondence within the last several months from this organization.

“I want people in Kimball County to understand that I am required by law to maintain a current voter’s registration list,” she said.

To that end, Sibal requestsr the public come forward with any change of information or addresses, or information on family members that have moved from the county and need to be removed from those rolls.

“I want the public to know the importance of maintaining your voter’s record is number one, so, its current when you go to vote,” she said.

Sibal received a recognition letter, along with a Recognition Award, from Nebraska Secretary of State, John A. Gale, for twenty years of service as the county clerk.

The letter of recognition and thanks reads in part, “While our county clerks are often required to excel in all aspects of their job, the ability to coordinate and execute an election without flaw is among the most challenging. Elections that are accurate, transparent, and reliable are the cornerstone of our democracy. Your service in this area has been exemplary.”