Nebraska 2022 ballot measures

Elections in Nebraska, 2022

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Three statewide ballot measures were certified for the 2022 ballot in the state of Nebraska. All three were approved.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Voters approved two ballot initiatives raising the state's minimum wage to $15 and requiring photo ID to vote.

* The Nebraska State Legislature voted to refer a constitutional amendment authorizing local governments to develop commercial air travel at local airports.

* Between 1996 and 2020, Nebraska voters approved 56.96% (45 of 79) and rejected 43.04% (34 of 79) of the ballot measures appearing on statewide ballots.

## Contents

* 1 On the ballot
* 2 Getting measures on the ballot
* 2.1 Citizens
* 2.2 Legislature
* 2.3 Referral of 2022 constitutional amendment
* 3 Historical facts
* 3.1 Ballot initiative certification rates
* 4 Local ballot measures
* 5 Not on the ballot
* 6 State profile
* 6.1 Presidential voting pattern
* 6.1.1 Pivot Counties (2016)
* 6.1.2 Pivot Counties (2020)
* 7 See also
* 8 External links
* 9 Footnotes

## On the ballot[edit]

Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes

|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| Amendment 1 | Authorize local governments to spend revenue to develop commercial air travel service at local airports |

481,702 (79%)

129,699 (21%)

CICA

| Initiative 432 | Require photo identification in order to vote |

432,028 (65%)

228,031 (35%)

CISS

| Initiative 433 | Increase the minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026 |

386,756 (59%)

272,603 (41%)

## Getting measures on the ballot[edit]

### Citizens[edit]

In Nebraska, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums. Voters approved a constitutional amendment for initiative and referendum powers in 1912.

In Nebraska, the number of required signatures was tied to the number of registered voters in the state as of the deadline for filing signatures. Therefore, petitioners cannot know the number of signatures required until signatures are submitted for verification.[1] The following are the requirements for the types of citizen-initiated measures in Nebraska:

* initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 10 percent of registered voters
* initiated state statute (ISS): 7 percent of registered voters
* veto referendum (VR): 5 percent of registered voters for a referendum or 10 percent for a referendum that also suspends the targeted law until voters decide the law's fate

The deadline for submitting signatures to get an initiative or referendum on the ballot for a particular general election is four months before that election. The deadline for the November 2022 ballot was July 7, 2022. The signature submission deadline for veto referendums was 90 days after the final adjournment of the state legislative session at which the targeted bill was passed.

### Legislature[edit]

The Nebraska State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures, in the form of constitutional amendments, to the ballot. Nebraska requires a 60 percent vote in the state Senate during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to a general election ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 30 votes in the Nebraska State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. The state Senate can call a special election for a constitutional amendment if 80 percent of legislators support the amendment.

### Referral of 2022 constitutional amendment[edit]

The following table illustrates the vote requirements for the constitutional amendment certified for the ballot, the votes the amendment received, and how Democrats and Republicans voted on the amendment in each legislative chamber:

No measures to list

## Historical facts[edit]

See also: List of Nebraska ballot measures and History of Initiative & Referendum in Nebraska

In Nebraska, a total of 103 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2020. Sixty-two ballot measures were approved, and 41 ballot measures were defeated.

Nebraska statewide ballot measures, 1985-2020

Total number  | Annual average  | Annual minimum  | Annual maximum  | Approved  | Defeated
#  | %  | #  | %
103  |  3.04  |  0  |  19  |  62  |  60.19  |  41  |  39.81

### Ballot initiative certification rates[edit]

See also: Ballot initiatives filed for the 2022 ballot

The following table shows the rate of certification for ballot initiatives in Nebraska between 2010 and 2020:

Nebraska statewide ballot initiatives filed and certified, 2010-2020

Year  | Ballot initiatives filed  | Certified
#  | %
2020  |  8  |  4  |  50.0
2018  |  7  |  1  |  14.3
2016  |  6  |  1  |  16.7
2014  |  7  |  1  |  14.3
2012  |  10  |  0  |  0.0
2010  |  3  |  0  |  0.0
Averages  |  6.8  |  1.2  |  15.9

## Local ballot measures[edit]

See also: Nebraska 2022 local ballot measures

Click here to read more about local ballot measures in Nebraska.

## Not on the ballot[edit]

Type  | Title  | Subject  | Description  | Result

|
|
|
|

LRCA | Service Program Reimbursements Amendment | State and local government budgets, spending and finance | Require the state legislature to reimburse political subdivisions for responsibilities imposed or increased levels of service required after the year 2022 |
CICA | Medical Marijuana Initiative | Marijuana | Legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes |
CICA | Marijuana Legalization Initiative | Marijuana | Legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes |
CICA | Conceal and Open Carry Firearms in Public Amendment | Firearms | Authorize concealed or open carry firearms on non-Federal public property |
CICA | Prohibit Forced or Coerced Medical Treatment Amendment | Healthcare | Prohibit any individual, employer, institution, school, private or public organization, or a governmental authority from coercing a minor contrary to parental approval or coercing an adult to receive medical treatment, including a vaccine |
CICA | Replace Department of Education with Office of Education Amendment | Education | Replace the Department of Education with the Office of Education accountable to the governor and the state legisalture |
CICA | Governor Override Amendment | State executive official measures | Authorize the Nebraska Governor to override rules, laws, and regulations issued by any political subdivision in Nebraska |
CICA | Election Review Judicial Panel Amendment | Elections and campaigns | Establish an election review panel made up of three judges that reviews election proceedings before results can be certified |
CISS | Remove Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Initiative | Transportation | Remove the helmet requirement for motorcycles, autocycles, and mopeds and require the use of eye protection |
CICA | Immunity from Prosecution for the Use of Justifiable Force Amendment | Civil and criminal trials | Grant immunity from criminal prosecution and civil liability to a person who uses or threatens to use justifiable force |
CICA | Permitless Carry of a Firearm Initiative | Firearms | Authorize individuals 17 years of age or older who have not been convicted of a felony to carry both open and concealed firearms and bladed weapons without a permit or registration |
CICA | "Stand Your Ground" Rights Initiative | Firearms | Establish that no individual has a duty to retreat but may use any force reasonably necessary including deadly force to protect life or property |
CICA | Reserve and Active Militias Initiative | War and peace | Divide the state militia into reserve and active militias |
CISS | Medical Marijuana Program Initiative | Marijuana | Legalizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes |
CISS | Medical Marijuana Regulation Initiative | Marijuana | Regulates the use of marijuana for medical purposes |

## State profile[edit]

Demographic data for Nebraska

| Nebraska| U.S.
Total population:| 1,893,765| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 76,824| 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:| 88.1%| 73.6%
Black/African American:| 4.7%| 12.6%
Asian:| 2%| 5.1%
Native American:| 0.9%| 0.8%
Pacific Islander:| 0.1%| 0.2%
Two or more:| 2.2%| 3%
Hispanic/Latino:| 10%| 17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 90.7%| 86.7%
College graduation rate:| 29.3%| 29.8%
Income
Median household income:| $52,997| $53,889
Persons below poverty level:| 14.6%| 11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Nebraska.

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**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

### Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Nebraska

Nebraska voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

#### Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Nebraska, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[2]

#### Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nebraska had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Nebraska coverage on Ballotpedia

* Elections in Nebraska
* United States congressional delegations from Nebraska
* Public policy in Nebraska
* Endorsers in Nebraska
* Nebraska fact checks
* More...

## See also[edit]

* 2022 ballot measures
* List of Nebraska ballot measures
* Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska
* History of Initiative & Referendum in Nebraska
* Campaign finance requirements for Nebraska ballot measures

## External links[edit]

* Nebraska Petitions in Circulation for the 2022 General Election

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "VR Statistics Count Report," July 1, 2020
2. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.

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