Competing abortion proposals highlight a record wave of ballot measures in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska voters on Tuesday supported a measure that would enshrine the state's current ban on abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy in the state constitution, and they rejected a competing measure which aimed to expand abortion rights. Nebraska became the first state since the U.S. Supreme Court to have competing abortion amendments on the same ballot overthrew Roe v. calf In 2022, nationwide abortion rights will be abolished, allowing states to decide for themselves. The dueling measures were among a record number of petition measures on the ballot in Nebraska on Tuesday.

What competing abortion measures were there?

A majority of voters supported a measure that would enshrine the state's current ban on abortion after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in the state constitution. The measure will also allow for further restrictions. Last year, lawmakers passed the 12-week ban, which provides 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 more “yes” votes than the 12-week measure, it would have amended the Constitution to guarantee the right to an abortion until viability – the standard under Roe that denotes the point at which a Fetus born could survive outside the womb. Some babies can survive with medical help after the 21st week of pregnancy.

Abortion was also on the ballot in several other states. At the start of the election, voters were present in all seven states that had done so adopted ballot measures related to abortion Since the reversal of Roe, abortion rights had been favored, including in some conservative states.

Who is behind the abortion measures in Nebraska?

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 Sandhills Global, also donated $1 million.

The effort was organized under the name “Protect Women and Children” and received strong support from faith-based organizations, including the Nebraska Catholic Conference, a lobbying group that has organized rallies, phone banks and community town halls to drum up support for the measure.

The effort to make feasibility the standard was called “Protect Our Rights Nebraska” and was supported by 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 making significant contributions to the approximately $3.7 million raised Protect Our Rights had collected.

What other initiatives were on Nebraska's ballot?

Nebraska voters approved two measures Tuesday that will create a system for the use and production of medical marijuana, provided the measures withstand an ongoing legal challenge.

The measures legalize the possession and use of medical marijuanaand enable the production, distribution and delivery of the medicine. Patients and caregivers would be allowed to possess up to 142 grams of marijuana upon a doctor's recommendation. The other would create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which would oversee the private groups that would make and distribute the drug.

These initiatives have been challenged over allegations that the petition campaign that put them on the ballot violated election rules. Nebraska's attorney general said proponents of the measures may have submitted several thousand invalid signatures, and a man has been charged in connection with 164 allegedly forged signatures. That means a judge could still declare the measures invalid.

Voters on Tuesday also decided to repeal a new conservative-backed law that provides millions of dollars in taxpayer money to finance teaching at private schools.

Finally, they approved a measure that requires all employers in Nebraska to provide employees with at least 40 hours of paid sick leave.