Nebraska Initiative 439, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)

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Nebraska Initiative 439
Flag of Nebraska.png
Election date
November 5, 2024
Topic
Abortion
Status
Defeatedd Defeated
Type
Constitutional amendment
Origin
Citizens

Nebraska Initiative 439, the Right to Abortion Initiative, was on the ballot in Nebraska as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.[1][2] The ballot measure was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to establish a right to abortion until fetal viability.

A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to establish a right to abortion until fetal viability.

Election results

See also: Results for abortion-related ballot measures, 2024

Nebraska Initiative 439

Result Votes Percentage
Yes 455,184 49.01%

Defeated No

473,652 50.99%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Overview

What would the amendment have done?

See also: Text of measure

The measure would have amended Article I of the Nebraska Constitution to add a new section providing a right to abortion until fetal viability, defined as "the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures."[1]

As of 2024, abortion was illegal after 12 weeks post-fertilization.[3]

How did this measure relate to Initiative 434?

See also: Nebraska Initiative 434, Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment (2024)

Voters in Nebraska decided on competing ballot measures on abortion. Voters approved Initiative 434, which prohibited abortions after the first trimester, except for medical emergencies or cases related to rape or incest. Voters defeated Initiative 439, which would have established a "fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient."

Secretary of State Bob Evnen (R) said, "[T]his November general election ballot will host two ballot measures that appear in direct conflict with each other, which could be the first time this has happened in Nebraska’s history." He said Gov. Jim Pillen (R) would have been responsible for determining whether there was a conflict if both passed.[4]

The competing measures were also significant because this was the first time voters anywhere decided on conflicting abortion-related ballot measures on the same ballot.

What was the status of abortion in Nebraska?

See also: Background

In Nebraska as of 2024, abortion was banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The law banning abortion after 12 weeks, LB 574, was signed by Gov. Jim Pillen (R) on May 22, 2023. Exceptions included saving the life of the mother, preventing serious risk to the physical health of the mother, and if the pregnancy was a result of rape and/or incest.[5]

What states have decided on abortion ballot measures in 2022 and 2023?

See also: History of abortion ballot measures

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs. v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that there is no federal constitutional right to abortion and overturned Roe. v. Wade, placing many abortion policy decisions with the states. From 2022 to 2023, seven ballot measures addressing abortion have been on the ballot, with 2022 having the highest number of abortion ballot measures on record in a single year. Four measures—in Vermont, Michigan, and California in 2022, and Ohio in 2023— were sponsored by campaigns that described themselves as pro-choice and created state constitutional rights to abortion. All four measures were approved. Three measures—in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana— were sponsored by campaigns describing themselves as pro-life and were designed to explicitly provide that there is no right to abortion in the state constitution. All three were defeated.

What states voted on abortion ballot measures in 2024?

See also: 2023 and 2024 abortion-related ballot measures

The following table provides a list of abortion-related measures that were on the ballot in 2024:

State Date Measure Description Outcome
Arizona Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Establishes the fundamental right to abortion that the state of Arizona may not interfere with before the point of fetal viability Approveda
Colorado Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Provide a constitutional right to abortion in the state constitution and allow the use of public funds for abortion Approveda
Florida Nov. 5, 2024 Florida Amendment 4 • Provide a constitutional right to abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider Defeatedd
Maryland Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment • Amend the Maryland Constitution to establish a right to reproductive freedom, defined to include "decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy" Approveda
Missouri Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment • Amend the Missouri Constitution to provide the right for reproductive freedom, and provide that the state legislature may enact laws that regulate abortion after fetal viability Approveda
Montana Nov. 5, 2024 CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative • Amend the Montana Constitution to provide a state constitutional "right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion" Approveda
Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment • Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters" Approveda
Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "all persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability" Defeatedd
New York Nov. 5, 2024 Equal Protection of Law Amendment • Add language to the New York Bill of Rights to provide that people cannot be denied rights based on their "ethnicity, national origin, age, and disability" or "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy." Approveda
Nevada Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Establish the constitutional right to an abortion, providing for the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, except where medically indicated to protect the life, physical health, or mental health of the pregnant woman. Approveda
South Dakota Nov. 5, 2024 Constitutional Amendment G • Provide a trimester framework for regulating abortion in the South Dakota Constitution Defeatedd

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Initiative 439 was as follows:[1]

Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to include a new section which provides: 'All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient’s treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.'

[ ] For

[ ] Against[6]

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for Initiative 439 was as follows:[1]

A vote 'FOR' will amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that all persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability is defined as the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient’s treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.


A vote 'AGAINST' will not amend the Nebraska Constitution in such manner.[6]

Object statement

The object statement on the circulating petition was:[1]

The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide all persons the fundamental right to abortion without interference from the state or its political subdivisions until fetal viability, which is the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures; or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.[6]

Constitutional changes

See also: Article I, Nebraska Constitution

The ballot measure would have added a Section 31 to Article I of the Nebraska Constitution. The following underlined text would have been added:[1]

All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.[6]

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The attorney general wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 15, and the FRE is 26. The word count for the ballot title is 88.

The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 19, and the FRE is 18. The word count for the ballot summary is 98.


Support

Protect Our Rights led the campaign supporting Initiative 439. Protect Our Rights also led the campaign to oppose Initiative 434.[7]

Supporters

Former Officials

Organizations

  • ACLU of Nebraska
  • Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
  • Black in Action Collective
  • Freedom From Religion Foundation
  • Hopewell Fund
  • Nebraska Appleseed
  • Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
  • New Venture Fund
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska
  • Reproductive Freedom For All
  • Second House Collaborative
  • The Fairness Project
  • Think Big America
  • Women’s Fund of Omaha

Arguments

  • Protect Our Rights: "There are many reasons why someone may make the deeply personal decision to have an abortion. Most Nebraskans agree that the government should not be involved in personal decisions that are better left to patients, their faith, and their health care providers. Nebraskans deserve the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion."


Opposition

Protect Women and Children led the campaign opposing Initiative 439. Protect Women and Children also led the campaign to support Initiative 434.[8]

Opponents

Officials

Organizations

  • Common Sense Nebraska
  • Nebraska Family Alliance
  • Nebraska Right to Life
  • Priests for Life
  • Students for Life

Arguments

  • U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R): "We must continue to lay the ground for a society in which abortion is not an accepted answer to an unwanted pregnancy… We can say the line is drawn here and no further."
  • Catherine Brooks, neonatal pediatrician: "As a doctor, I want compassionate, clear, scientific standards of care. As a mom, I want to keep the government out of the relationship between a woman and her physician. Initiative 439 pretends to protect our rights but it does the opposite. It lets government officials interfere in medical decisions and takes care out of the hands of licensed physicians, when women in crisis need them most."


Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Nebraska ballot measures
The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 31, 2024.


Protect Our Rights registered as a political action committee (PAC) to support Initiative 439 and oppose Initiative 434. Protect Women & Children registered as a PAC to oppose Initiative 439 and support Initiative 434. [9]

Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Support $12,935,936.35 $2,962,655.61 $15,898,591.96 $10,511,165.90 $13,473,821.51
Oppose $7,742,302.32 $4,974,819.53 $12,717,121.85 $7,736,555.06 $12,711,374.59
Total $20,678,238.67 $7,937,475.14 $28,615,713.81 $18,247,720.96 $26,185,196.10

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.[9]

Committees in support of Initiative 439
Committee Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Protect Our Rights $12,935,936.35 $2,962,655.61 $15,898,591.96 $10,511,165.90 $13,473,821.51
Total $12,935,936.35 $2,962,655.61 $15,898,591.96 $10,511,165.90 $13,473,821.51

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the support committees.[9]

Donor Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions
New Venture Fund $2,000,000.00 $0.00 $2,000,000.00
The Fairness Project $1,500,000.00 $290,617.95 $1,790,617.95
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska $1,507,500.00 $180,113.45 $1,687,613.45
Ashlei for Nebraska $765,814.96 $765,814.96 $1,531,629.92
Michael Bloomberg $1,500,000.00 $0.00 $1,500,000.00

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in opposition to the measure.[9]

Committees in opposition to Initiative 439
Committee Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Protect Women & Children $7,742,302.32 $4,974,819.53 $12,717,121.85 $7,736,555.06 $12,711,374.59
Total $7,742,302.32 $4,974,819.53 $12,717,121.85 $7,736,555.06 $12,711,374.59

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the opposition committee.[9]

Donor Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions
Marlene Ricketts $4,000,000.00 $0.00 $4,000,000.00
Jim Scheer for Regent $0.00 $3,242,455.00 $3,242,455.00
Pete Ricketts $1,115,000.00 $0.00 $1,115,000.00
Common Sense Nebraska $245,000.00 $820,616.13 $1,065,616.13
Shawn Peed $1,050,000.00 $0.00 $1,050,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Polls

See also: 2024 ballot measure polls
Are you aware of a poll on this ballot measure that should be included below? You can share ballot measure polls, along with source links, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Nebraska Initiative 439, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
Poll
Dates
Sample size
Margin of error
Support
Oppose
Undecided
Emerson College Polling 9/26/24-10/2/24 1000 RV ± 3% 44% 40% 16%
Question: "On the ballot measure to provide for a state constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability, would you vote yes, in favor of the constitutional right to abortion or no, in opposition?"

Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Background

Status of abortion in Nebraska

In Nebraska, as of 2024, abortion was banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy. This law went into effect when Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed LB 574 into law on May 22, 2023. Exceptions after 12 weeks of pregnancy included saving the life of the mother, preventing serious risk to the physical health of the mother, and if the pregnancy was a result of rape and/or incest.[5]

U.S. Supreme Court rulings on abortion

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)

See also: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

In 2018, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, challenged the constitutionality of the "Gestational Age Act" in federal court. The newly-enacted law prohibited abortions after the fifteenth week of pregnancy except in cases of medical emergencies or fetal abnormalities. The U.S. district court granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, holding that the law was unconstitutional, and put a permanent stop to the law's enforcement. On appeal, the 5th Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling. Click here to learn more about the case's background. On May 17, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the case.[10]

On June 24, 2022, in a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court of the United States found there was no constitutional right to abortion and overruled Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). In a 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Mississippi's abortion law at issue in the case. Roe v. Wade found that state laws criminalizing abortion prior to fetal viability violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the essential holding of Roe v. Wade but rejected the trimester framework established in the case. The high court affirmed that states could not ban abortions before fetal viability.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, finding that state laws criminalizing abortion prior to fetal viability violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The high court held that states can regulate and/or prohibit abortions (except those to preserve the life or health of the mother) once a fetus reaches the point of viability. Roe v. Wade defined fetal viability as "the interim point at which the fetus becomes 'viable,' that is, potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." The high court further noted that "viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks."[11]

The ruling established a strict trimester framework to guide state abortion policies. States, according to this framework, were prohibited from banning or regulating abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, states were permitted to regulate abortion to protect the mother's health. During the third trimester, states were allowed to ban abortion, except in cases where an abortion is needed to preserve the life or health of the mother.[11]

Abortion regulations by state

As of February 28, 2025, 41 states restricted abortions after a certain point in pregnancy.[12] The remaining nine states and Washington, D.C., did not. Of the 41 states with established thresholds for restrictions on abortion:

  • Thirteen states restrict abortion after conception
  • Four states restrict abortion at six weeks post-fertilization
  • Two states restrict abortion at 12 weeks post-fertilization
  • Zero states restrict abortion at 15 weeks post-fertilization
  • One state restricts abortion at 18 weeks since the last menstrual period
  • Three states restrict abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization or 22 weeks after the last menstrual period
  • Four states restrict abortion at 24 weeks since the last menstrual period
  • Thirteen states restrict abortion at fetal viability
  • One state restricts abortion in the third trimester

The map and table below give more details on state laws restricting abortion based on the stage of pregnancy. Hover over the footnotes in the table for information on legislation pending legal challenges or otherwise not yet in effect.

Some of the terms that are used to describe states' thresholds for abortion restriction include the following:

  1. Conception: This threshold prohibits all abortions after conception, although some states provide exceptions if the woman's life or health is threatened.[13]
  2. Fetal heartbeat: This threshold restricts abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which may begin six weeks after the last menstrual period.[14][15]
  3. Fetal viability: In Roe v. Wade, SCOTUS defined fetal viability. The Supreme Court further noted that "viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks."[16]
  4. Last menstrual period: This threshold marks the beginning of a pregnancy from the first day of a woman's last menstrual period.[14]
  5. Post-fertilization: Thresholds using post-fertilization mark the beginning of pregnancy at the time of conception, which can occur up to 24 hours following intercourse. A threshold of 20 weeks post-fertilization is equivalent to 22 weeks since last menstrual period.[17]
  6. Post-implantation: Thresholds using post-implantation mark the beginning of pregnancy at the date on which a fertilized egg adheres to the lining of the uterus, roughly five days after fertilization. A threshold of 24 weeks post-implantation is equivalent to 27 weeks since last menstrual period.[17]

State constitutional rights and abortion-related ballot measures

Constitutional rights

The topic constitutional rights addresses ballot measures that establish a state constitutional right to abortion. Campaigns that support these measures often describe themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights.

State Year Measure Yes No Outcome
Arizona 2024 Proposition 139, Right to Abortion Initiative 61.61% 38.39%
Approveda
Colorado 2024 Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative 61.97% 38.03%
Approveda
Florida 2024 Amendment 4, Right to Abortion Initiative[24] 57.17% 42.83%
Defeatedd
Maryland 2024 Maryland Question 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment 76.06% 23.94%
Approveda
Missouri 2024 Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative 51.60% 48.40%
Approveda
Montana 2024 CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative 57.76% 42.24%
Approveda
Nebraska 2024 Nebraska Initiative 439, Right to Abortion Amendment 49.01% 50.99%
Defeatedd
Nevada 2024 Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative 64.36% 35.64%
Approveda
New York 2024 New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment 62.47% 37.53%
Approveda
South Dakota 2024 Constitutional Amendment G, Right to Abortion Initiative 41.41% 58.59%
Defeatedd
Ohio 2023 Issue 1: Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative 56.78% 43.22%
Approveda
California 2022 Proposition 1: Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment 66.88% 33.12%
Approveda
Michigan 2022 Proposal 3: Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative 56.66% 43.34%
Approveda
Vermont 2022 Proposal 5: Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment 76.77% 23.23%
Approveda


Constitutional interpretation

The topic constitutional interpretation addresses ballot measures designed to provide that state constitutions cannot be interpreted to establish a state constitutional right to abortion. These types of amendments are designed to address previous and future state court rulings on abortion that have prevented or could prevent legislatures from passing certain abortion laws. Campaigns that support these measures often describe themselves as pro-life.

State Year Measure Yes No Outcome
Kansas 2022 No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 41.03% 58.97%
Defeatedd
Kentucky 2022 No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment 47.65% 52.35%
Defeatedd
Louisiana 2020 Amendment 1: No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment 62.06% 37.94%
Approveda
Alabama 2018 Amendment 2: State Abortion Policy Amendment 59.01% 40.99%
Approveda
West Virginia 2018 Amendment 1: No Right to Abortion in Constitution Measure 51.73% 48.27%
Approveda
Tennessee 2014 Amendment 1: No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 52.60% 47.40%
Approveda
Florida 2012 Amendment 6: State Constitution Interpretation and Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Amendment 44.90% 55.10%
Defeatedd
Massachusetts 1986 Question 1: No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 41.83% 58.17%
Defeatedd


Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska

The state process

In Nebraska, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 10 percent of registered voters as of the deadline for filing signatures. Because of the unique signature requirement based on registered voters, Nebraska is also the only state where petition sponsors cannot know the exact number of signatures required until they are submitted. Nebraska law also features a distribution requirement mandating that petitions contain signatures from 5 percent of the registered voters in each of two-fifths (38) of Nebraska's 93 counties.

Signatures must be submitted at least four months prior to the next general election. Signatures do not roll over and become invalid after the next general election at least four months after the initial initiative application filing. Depending on when the initiative application is filed, petitioners can have up to just under two years to circulate petitions.

The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2024 ballot:

  • Signatures: approximately 123,465
  • Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was July 3, 2024.

Signatures are submitted to the secretary of state. The secretary of state sends the appropriate signature petitions to each county, where county election officials verify the signatures. Upon receiving the signatures back from county officials, the secretary of state determines whether or not the requirements were met.

Details about this initiative

  • The initiative was filed on November 13, 2023.[2]
  • The campaign reported submitting 207,000 signatures on July 3, 2024.[25]
  • On August 23, 2024, the secretary of state certified the initiative for the ballot. The secretary reported that the campaign submitted more than 136,000 valid signatures and collected valid signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in 47 counties.[26]

Sponsors of the measure hired Landslide Political and She's Electable Nebraska LLC to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $2,117,999.00 was spent to collect the 123,465 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $17.15.


Lawsuit

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Whether the amendment violates the state's single subject rule
Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
Plaintiff(s): Carolyn I. LaGrecaDefendant(s): Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen (R)

  Source: Nebraska Examiner

On August 26, 2024, Carolyn LeGreca filed a lawsuit with the Nebraska Supreme Court arguing that the initiative violated the state's single subject rule because the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized a distinction between a fundamental right to abortion and granting it "without interference from the state."[27]

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Nebraska

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Nebraska.

How to vote in Nebraska


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Nebraska Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed November 17, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Text" defined multiple times with different content
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nebraska Secretary of State's Office, "Current Petitions in Circulation," accessed January 6, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SoS" defined multiple times with different content
  3. The Fuller Project, "How major abortion laws compare, state by state," accessed December 4, 2022
  4. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Secretary of State certifies two abortion-related petitions for general election ballot," August 23, 2024
  5. 5.0 5.1 Nebraska State Legislature, "LB 574," accessed September 3, 2024
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
  7. Protect Our Rights, "Homepage," accessed October 26, 2024
  8. Protect Women and Children, "Homepage," accessed October 26, 2024
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 NADC, "Campaign Finance," accessed September 7, 2024
  10. SCOTUSblog, "Court to weigh in on Mississippi abortion ban intended to challenge Roe v. Wade," May 17, 2021
  11. 11.0 11.1 Cornell University Law School, "Roe v. Wade," accessed April 27, 2017
  12. Note: Exceptions to these thresholds are generally provided when pregnancy threatens the mother's life or health.
  13. The Fuller Project, "How major abortion laws compare, state by state," accessed December 4, 2022
  14. 14.0 14.1 Kaiser Family Foundation, "States with Gestational Limits for Abortion," August 1, 2020
  15. Guttmacher Institute, "State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy," September 1, 2021
  16. Supreme Court of the United States, Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1973
  17. 17.0 17.1 Guttmacher Institute, "The Implications of Defining When a Woman Is Pregnant," May 9, 2005
  18. Voters approved Proposition 139 on November 5, 2024, amending the state constitution to provide for the fundamental right to abortion, among other provisions. The amendment was set to go into effect once Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) certified the election results following the November 25, 2024, canvass deadline.
  19. Axios, "When Arizona's new abortion measure will take effect," November 7, 2024
  20. In a 6-3 decision in Moyle v. United States (consolidated with Idaho v. United States), the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2024, reinstated a U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho ruling that temporarily blocked the state of Idaho from enforcing the part of a 2022 law that barred abortion in case of certain medical emergencies.
  21. Voters approved Amendment 3, which provided for a right to abortion in the state constitution. The amendment was set to take effect 30 days after the election.
  22. Missouri Independent, "Missouri voters approve Amendment 3, overturn state’s abortion ban," November 5, 2024
  23. Ohio voters approved Issue 1 in 2023, allowing the state to restrict abortion only after fetal viability. However, the state's previous restrictions on abortion—such as SB 127, which banned abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization—remained on the books. As of August 2024, courts had not weighed in on the interaction between Issue 1 and the older laws.
  24. Note: Florida Amendment 4 needed to receive a 60% vote to be approved.
  25. Express and Star, "Competing abortion measures could be on Nebraska’s ballot in November," July 3, 2024
  26. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Secretary of State certifies two abortion-related petitions for general election ballot," August 23, 2024
  27. Nebraska Examiner, "Lawsuit asks Nebraska Supreme Court to intervene and stop abortion-rights ballot petition," August 28, 2024
  28. Nebraska Statutes, "Section 32-908," accessed April 18, 2023
  29. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Nebraska Voter Registration Background,” accessed April 18, 2023
  30. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Felon Voting Rights FAQ,” accessed April 18, 2023
  31. 31.0 31.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  32. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Online Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  33. 33.0 33.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 28, 2024
  34. Omaha World-Herald, “Online voter registration is coming to Nebraska,” September 5, 2015
  35. Nebraska Secretary of State’s Official Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
  36. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."