New initiative seeks to protect Nebraska voters’ right to propose and pass laws

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - On Thursday, Respect Nebraska Voters – a coalition of Nebraska community members, advocates and supporters – filed language with the secretary of state’s office for a ballot measure that further protects voter-approved initiatives and provides additional, common sense safeguards around Nebraskans’ constitutional right to propose and vote on ballot initiatives.

This initiative would amend the state constitution to change the number of state lawmakers required to overturn or alter initiatives voters have passed into law from two-thirds of the state legislature to four-fifths. The constitutional amendment also requires the same four-fifths threshold to pass new laws affecting the initiative and referendum process and places additional protections around the people’s ab