HASTINGS, Neb. – 2024 Primary Elections are less than 40 days away, and photo IDs are now required to vote in Nebraska. Here's what you need to know before you head to the polls next month.

In 2023 the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill to require all Nebraska voters to show a photo ID when voting in elections.

Come next month will be the first time Nebraskans will have to go through the new process.

The issue from now until then is making sure everyone has a valid form of Nebraska photo ID, which has seen some hiccups for certain demographics.

"When you're 90 years old, a lot of them (people) don't have their driver's licenses anymore." said The Kensington's Assisted Living Life Enrichment Coach Rhonda Kolbet.

A driver’s license is the most common way of showing a photo Identification of yourself when needed in certain situations. But not everyone has one.

Another of many organizations spreading the word to people this may affect is the AARP, which engages with people over the age of 50.

"People who are on the older end of the scale are mostly likely to have maybe given up that driver's license," said State Director of AARP Nebraska Todd Stubbendieck. "Which is one of the reasons we fought for, and are very pleased that in the list of acceptable forms of IDs is an expired driver's license."

So if you have an old license sitting around in your dresser, that’s just one form of photo ID you can use.

Other acceptable forms of ID to use this year are U.S. Passports, Military or Tribal ID’s, a Political Subdivision ID, a Nebraska University ID, or in the case of assisted living homes like The Kensington, medical records of their residents can also be used.

"My biggest concern about that, was HIPAA laws, how much information can they see on these medical records?" said Kolbet. "I just copied the 'face sheet' off of the medical records and took it over (to the courthouse), and they said that'll work perfectly."

All of that deals with voting in person, but for absentee or mail-in ballots, that will also see a change.

On that form will be a place in order for you to put your driver's license number," said Stubbendieck. "If you're using a different form of ID to vote, they ask that you make a copy of that photographic ID and include it in the ballot application when you return it."

If you’re someone who doesn’t have any form of acceptable ID whatsoever, you can acquire a free state ID from your local DMV as long as you have your birth certificate.

If you don’t have a birth certificate, you can get a new one, also free from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

This new process may take you some extra time, but the new way to vote is now law.

More information about accepted and unaccepted forms of Voter ID can be found on the Nebraska Secretary of State's Website.