Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
I write this week to extend an invitation for Nebraskans to take part in choosing the next Nebraska license plate. While the new plates won’t be available until 2011, planning is underway to develop and produce the new plates and we are again asking citizens to vote for their favorite plate from May 4 to 17 on the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles website.
Designs for the four options were developed based on ideas submitted by Nebraskans during a contest held as part of the last plate redesign. The state redesigns and issues new license plates every six years, up from every three years, following a 2004 change in state law.
Each plate features the address of the state website, Nebraska.gov, but they are otherwise very distinct. Images of the four options are available online and DMV offices will have posters available as well, but the choices depict the following:
This time around, the vote will be conducted entirely online at the DMV website, available at www.dmv.ne.gov. Voting is open to all Nebraskans, and the website was designed to limit the number of votes from specific IP addresses.
While this is the third time Nebraskans have been able to choose the design of the license plate, this is the first time we’ve been able to conduct a vote entirely online. The past few years have had a dramatic impact on Internet accessibility.
Citizens expect to be able to transact business online in many areas because of the convenience the Internet offers. In the past few years has become seamless part of our lives. As an example, in 2003 voters had the option of voting online or picking up a post card at their DMV office and mailing it back. The result was that the vast majority of votes from previous contests were received online.
The option to vote for the next license plate is just one of many services available on the Department of Motor Vehicles website, www.dmv.ne.gov. Nebraskans can renew the registration on their vehicles online.
The website also offers the option to purchase specialty license plates, take practice driver license exams, and reinstate a suspended license rather than having to travel to Lincoln to do so in person. There is also an online calculator available to add up all taxes before purchasing a new vehicle.
With 2.2 million licensed motor vehicles in Nebraska, services like online renewal help save time for Nebraskans and help us provide a more efficient, more effective government.
Please Note: detailed images of the four designs can be found on the Governor’s website at the following link, http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/photos/2009/05_2009/04_licence_plates/index.html
