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OMAHA, born
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska voters on Tuesday backed a measure that would enshrine the state’s current ban on abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy in the state constitution, and they a competing measure was rejected who wanted to expand abortion rights. Nebraska was the first state since the U.S. Supreme Court to have competing abortion amendments on the same ballot overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending the national right to abortion and allowing states to decide for themselves. The dueling measures were among a record number of petition-initiated measures during Tuesday’s vote in Nebraska.
What were the competing abortion measures?
A majority of voters supported a measure that enshrines the state’s current ban on abortion after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in the state constitution. The measure also allows further restrictions. Last year, the legislature passed the 12-week ban, which includes exceptions for cases of rape and incest and to protect the life of the pregnant woman.
Voters rejected the other abortion measure. Had they passed it with a larger number of “in favor” votes than the 12-week measure, it would have amended the Constitution to guarantee the right to abortion until viable – the standard under Roe, which is the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb. Some babies can survive with medical assistance after 21 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion was also on the agenda in several other states. Voters in all seven states were present at the election decided on abortion-related voting measures since the reversal of Roe had advanced abortion rights, including in some conservative states.
Who’s Behind Nebraska’s Abortion Policy?
The 12-week ban was funded by some of Nebraska’s wealthiest people, including Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, who previously served as governor and donated more than $1.1 million. His mother, Marlene Ricketts, donated $4 million to the cause. Members of the Peed family, which owns publishing company Sandhills Global, also gave $1 million.
The effort was organized under the name Protect Women and Children and was heavily supported by religious organizations, including the Nebraska Catholic Conference, a lobbying group that has organized rallies, phone banks and town halls to drum up support for the measure.
The effort to enshrine viability as a standard was called Protect Our Rights Nebraska and received support from several medical, advocacy and social justice groups. Planned Parenthood donated nearly $1 million to the cause, with the American Civil Liberties Union, I Be Black Girl, Nebraska Appleseed and the Women’s Fund of Omaha also contributing significantly to the approximately $3.7 million raised by Protect Our Rights.
What other initiatives were on the ballot in Nebraska?
Nebraska voters on Tuesday approved two measures that will create a system for the use and production of medical marijuana, if the measures survive an ongoing legal challenge.
The measures legalize the possession and use of medical marijuanaand enable the manufacture, distribution and delivery of the drug. Patients and caregivers would be allowed to possess up to 142 grams of marijuana if recommended by a doctor. The other would create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which would oversee the private groups that would produce and dispense the drug.
These initiatives were challenged amid allegations that the petition campaign that put them on the ballot violated election rules. Nebraska’s attorney general said supporters of the measures may have submitted several thousand invalid signatures, and one man has been charged in connection with 164 allegedly fraudulent signatures. This means that a judge can still declare the measures invalid.
Voters also chose Tuesday to repeal a new conservative-backed law that allocated millions of dollars in taxpayer money. to finance private school education.
Finally, they passed a measure requiring all employers in Nebraska to provide at least 40 hours of paid sick leave to their employees.
Margery A. Beck and Josh Funk, The Associated Press