Nebraska 2022 ballot measures

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

On the ballot[edit]

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.

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:

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]

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]

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