Organizers of petition drives in Nebraska are facing a make-or-break week as they push to gather enough signatures to get their issues on the 2024 general election ballot. Voter fatigue with both paid and volunteer petition circulators has been a challenge, with some high-profile efforts still needing thousands of signatures as the deadline looms.
Efforts to legalize medical marijuana are among those still needing more support, with proponents highlighting the benefits for patients with various medical conditions. Criticism of the push for medical marijuana legalization centers around concerns that it could lead to broader legalization of recreational marijuana.
State Sen. Steve Erdman is leading an effort to replace property and income taxes with the EPIC Option consumption tax and has seen increased interest from frustrated residents. The group is also circulating a petition to exempt groceries from the tax.
Three abortion-related petitions are also making late pushes for signatures, with different approaches to either include abortion rights in the state constitution or restrict, limit, or ban abortions. One group, Support Our Schools Nebraska, is targeting a law enacted late in the legislative session and has until July 17 to gather signatures to repeal it.
Paid sick leave proponents have already turned in 138,000 signatures for their petition drive, which seeks to require Nebraska employers to provide paid sick leave for more workers. Petitions for state law changes need about 87,000 signatures, while constitutional amendments need signatures from 10% of Nebraska’s registered voters.
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