Nebraska voters will decide on paid sick leave, marijuana, abortion and private school scholarships
Voters will make their voices heard this fall.
Nebraska’s general election ballot is officially set, but not without some controversy.After lawsuits, Supreme Court decisions and an ongoing Attorney General investigation into alleged fraud, the ballots are ready for print.This general election, Creighton political science professor Richard Witmer is expecting a high turnout of 65 to 70%, where several Nebraska contests could be decided by narrow margins.”Looks like it’s going to be a close race between Bacon and Vargas,” Witmer said. “Even the Senate race might be closer than we’ve seen in a while.”And will Omaha’s so-called “blue dot” go for former Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump?”Too close to call,” Witmer said.However, there are five ballot initiatives and one referendum Nebraska voters will have a direct say in. Every vote could be a deciding factor.One would require employers to offer paid sick leave to their employees. For businesses with less than 20 workers, employees can earn up to five paid sick days a year. For ones with more than 20 workers, employees can earn up to seven paid sick days. Two different abortion rights initiatives are on the ballot. The one with the most “yes” votes will be enshrined into the state constitution.A vote for “Protect Women and Children” would ban abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy unless it’s medically necessary or the result of rape or incest. That’s the current Nebraska law.A vote for “Protect our Rights” would allow abortion up until the point where the fetus could survive outside the womb.Voters will decide on two initiatives: one would legalize medical marijuana, and the other would regulate the industry. Advocates say it’ll provide relief to their children and loved ones with medical conditions. Opponents call it a foothold for the commercialization of the industry.And Nebraskans will make a choice on whether $10 million of state money can go to private school scholarships.”We’re just here to make sure that they have the financial resources to get to a school that’s best for them because a kid’s K-12 opportunity needs to be the best opportunity that they have so that they can thrive as a human being,” Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said.”When there’s been other things in the past like sharing textbooks and things like that, those resources were open to all kids, public and private. This is exclusively going to private schools and that’s the fundamental issue we have with it,” Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said.”These initiatives are kind of tricky things because some of them that you would expect to pass are sometimes closer,” Witmer said.Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
Nebraska’s general election ballot is officially set, but not without some controversy.
After lawsuits, Supreme Court decisions and an ongoing Attorney General investigation into alleged fraud, the ballots are ready for print.
This general election, Creighton political science professor Richard Witmer is expecting a high turnout of 65 to 70%, where several Nebraska contests could be decided by narrow margins.
“Looks like it’s going to be a close race between Bacon and Vargas,” Witmer said. “Even the Senate race might be closer than we’ve seen in a while.”
And will Omaha’s so-called “blue dot” go for former Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump?
“Too close to call,” Witmer said.
However, there are five ballot initiatives and one referendum Nebraska voters will have a direct say in. Every vote could be a deciding factor.
One would require employers to offer paid sick leave to their employees. For businesses with less than 20 workers, employees can earn up to five paid sick days a year. For ones with more than 20 workers, employees can earn up to seven paid sick days.
Two different abortion rights initiatives are on the ballot. The one with the most “yes” votes will be enshrined into the state constitution.
A vote for “Protect Women and Children” would ban abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy unless it’s medically necessary or the result of rape or incest. That’s the current Nebraska law.
A vote for “Protect our Rights” would allow abortion up until the point where the fetus could survive outside the womb.
Voters will decide on two initiatives: one would legalize medical marijuana, and the other would regulate the industry. Advocates say it’ll provide relief to their children and loved ones with medical conditions. Opponents call it a foothold for the commercialization of the industry.
And Nebraskans will make a choice on whether $10 million of state money can go to private school scholarships.
“We’re just here to make sure that they have the financial resources to get to a school that’s best for them because a kid’s K-12 opportunity needs to be the best opportunity that they have so that they can thrive as a human being,” Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said.
“When there’s been other things in the past like sharing textbooks and things like that, those resources were open to all kids, public and private. This is exclusively going to private schools and that’s the fundamental issue we have with it,” Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said.
“These initiatives are kind of tricky things because some of them that you would expect to pass are sometimes closer,” Witmer said.