LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) - Nebraska’s state constitutional
officers have officially certified the November 2024 general election,
which includes the formal approval of five ballot measures.
The State Canvassing Board on Monday unanimously accepted the election
results for all but one race — a seat on the Dawson Public Power District,
which will head to an automatic recount Wednesday morning.
The Canvassing Board consists of Gov. Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob
Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Treasurer Tom Briese and State
Auditor Mike Foley.
Evnen, whose office oversees and administers Nebraska elections,
celebrated the “exemplary work” of election officials and voters, who
completed the first general election with voter ID.
Deputy Nebraska Secretary of State Wayne Bena, who oversees the state’s
Elections Division, said he spent the majority of the morning on Election
Day this Nov. 5 dealing with whether yard signs were too close to polling
sites.
“If that’s the biggest part of my day, I know it’s going to be a good
day,” Bena told the canvassers.
Ballot measure implementation
The official certification will also usher in new state laws and a new
constitutional amendment within the next 10 days, upon official
proclamations from Pillen:
Initiative Measure 434 — An amendment to the Nebraska Constitution to
officially prohibit most abortions after the first trimester (about 12
weeks gestational age) with exceptions for medical emergency, sexual
assault or incest.
Referendum Measure 435 — The repeal of Legislative Bill 1402, a state law
passed this spring to appropriate $10 million for “education scholarships”
to private schools. Briese said roughly $50,000 in administrative costs
and $30,000 in scholarship funds had not been distributed and will return
to the state budget after June 30, 2025.
Initiative Measure 437 — A new state law to allow Nebraskans to legally
possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis, so long as they have a written
recommendation from their health care practitioner (valid for two years,
or another specified time frame).
Initiative Measure 438 — A new state law to regulate medical cannabis with
a new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which must establish criteria
to license “registered cannabis establishments” by July 1, 2025, and begin
granting registrations by Oct. 1, 2025. Commission members will be the
three members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. The governor will
have the option of appointing two more members.
One ballot measure has a delayed implementation date of Oct. 1, 2025:
Initiative Measure 436 — A new state law to offer a minimum level of paid
sick leave for workers, up to 40 hours for small businesses and 56 hours
in businesses with 20 or more weekly employees.
Initiative Measure 439, an abortion-rights constitutional amendment
regarding a “right to abortion” until fetal viability, failed to pass.
