e. After the Election
After election day, the votes on an initiative or referenda are counted in the same manner as any
other ballot. Two days after the election, the local canvassing board will meet to certify results from
the county level. Those results are forwarded to the Secretary of State and are presented to the
State Canvassing Board, which consists of the Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and
the Secretary of State. The State Canvassing Board certifies the statewide vote totals on the
measure on the fourth Monday following the general election. Within 10 days after certification by
the canvassing board, the Governor issues a proclamation declaring which measures have passed
and are effective as of that time.
Persons involved in a statewide initiative or referendum process are subject to the provisions of the
Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act (§§49-1401, et seq., Neb. Rev. Stat.). This act
defines a ballot question as any question which is submitted or which is intended to be submitted to a
popular vote at an election, including an initiative and a referendum.
Persons supporting or opposing statewide initiative or referendum processes must keep records of
contributions received and expenditures made in connection with the petition effort and, in the event
the question is placed on the ballot, contributions received and expenditures made in connection with
supporting or opposing the passage or defeat of the ballot question.
Persons raising, receiving or exceeding more than $5,000 in a single calendar year for the purpose of
supporting or opposing the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot question must register as a
ballot question committee. Within ten days after exceeding the $5,000, a Statement
of Organization
must be filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC Form A-1).
The vote on statewide initiatives and referenda takes place at
the general election in November in even-numbered years. At
that time, all voters in the state are able to cast ballots for
certified ballot measures. For a measure to pass, not only do
more people have to vote for the measure than against, but also
at least 35% of voters casting ballots must vote for the measure.
For example, 100 people show up at the polls to vote. Of those
100 voters, not only must there be more votes cast “For” (or
“Repeal”) than “Against” (or “Retain”), but at least 35 must vote
“For” the initiative (or “Repeal” for referenda) for the measure to
be successful.
Another constitutional provision addresses the situation where
two initiatives conflict. If two or more initiatives conflict and they
both (or more) pass, the measure receiving the most votes “For”
will be adopted as to those provisions that conflict.
A. Accountability and Disclosure