With so little time before the election, commercials for and against candidates and ballot initiatives flood news, social media, mailboxes, and even yards. Bitter words, sound bites, and talking points, which are designed to stir up emotion rather than to give information, besiege us.
No wonder many of us can’t wait for November 6. The whole experience can be so draining, and the issues facing our communities can feel so impossible, that some throw up their hands and give up on voting.
But November 5 is a crucial day. We get to decide what happens! Not every country gives its …
School Choice for Nebraska? You Decide.
The debate over school choice has come to Nebraska. Nebraska’s new school choice law has established a voucher program that sets aside $10 million for private school scholarships.
One of your choices on the ballot this fall will be to repeal or to retain that voucher program.
Nebraska’s fight over school choice has a 2-year backstory. Last year, Nebraska legislators passed LB 753, allowing $50 million in tax credits for qualifying families to send their children to private schools. Governor Pillen signed it on May 23, 2023. The bill provides scholarships “with priority …
Personal story for Why VIP
Summer VIP Celebration!
We take a break from our regularly scheduled objectiveness today to celebrate the success, community, and expanding reach of Voter Information Project (VIP), and to invite you to help us improve. I can’t think of a better way to do that than to share my own experience.
Before I get into that: What is VIP? If you have never used it—VIP was made to give voters access to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. [from the editor: If candidates fail to tell the truth, we cannot control that - but we report what …
To Sign or Not to Sign: Paid Sick Leave Initiative
One petition being circulated for this year’s ballot is the “Paid Sick Leave Initiative.” It lays out rules that, if put on the ballot and passed, would require private Nebraska employers to provide a minimum amount of sick leave.
“The object of this petition is to enact a statute to provide eligible employees the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs, to entitle those employed by employers with fewer than 20 employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of earned paid sick time …
To Sign or not to Sign: Now Choose Life Constitutional Amendment
On May 2, a third abortion-related initiative was submitted to the Nebraska Secretary of State. VIP has already covered two abortion petitions—one that would establish a fundamental right to abortion in Nebraska, and one that would protect unborn children from abortion in the second and third trimesters, while allowing the possibility for further abortion restrictions to be passed by the Nebraska legislature in the future.
The third petition, Now Choose Life, would result in abortions being banned across Nebraska. Its object is to “amend the Nebraska Constitution to recognize …
To Sign or Not to Sign: Protect Women and Children—Constitutional Amendment
VIP recently became aware of an abortion petition that counters the proposed constitutional amendment “Protect the Right to Abortion” (PRA) amendment discussed in March’s blog. The new amendment is part of a campaign begun by the organization Protect Women & Children Initiative, a group of medical professionals. It is titled “Protect Women and Children” (PWC). The "Protect Women & Children Initiative” states the following:
Article One of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 that states as follows: “Except when a woman seeks …
from Nebraska Secretary of State: (including Voter turnout by County, 27% statewide)
- Statewide, (President, U.S. Senate (6-yr term), Senate Special Election (2-yr term); Congressional, (Districts 1, 2, 3); Legislature, (Odd-numbered districts); Public Service Commissioner (Districts 1, 3 - all unopposed); State Board of Education (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4); Board of Regents (Districts 3, 4, 5, 8); Learning Community (Districts 2, 4, 6); Natural Resources District (odd-numbered subdistricts); Metropolitan Utitilities District (Subdivisions 1, 2); Public Power Districts (Norris-Central and OPPD-8)
from Douglas County, The election will be official on Friday, May 31, 2024....
Voting in Nebraska – Primary 2024
The first step to voting in Nebraska is to register with your County Election Commission/Clerk. There are several ways you can do this: on-line, by mail, at the DMV, or at the election office. Check your county’s website to find the nearest location for you. A partial listing of counties is listed below. If you register anywhere other than the Election Office, the deadline is Friday, April 29. At the election office, the deadline is Friday, May 3. You will need a photo ID to register. If your religion doesn’t allow you …
To Sign or not to Sign: Protect the Right to Abortion – Constitutional Initiative
Abortion. To some, it’s a necessary tragedy. To some, it’s the taking of a life and the wounding of another. And to some, it’s a foundational right to freedom and autonomy.
Perhaps no other issue highlights the needs of families in a way that touches lives so intimately. Perhaps no other issue divides passionate, compassionate people so drastically. How can we support women experiencing unwanted pregnancies and the men who care about them? How can we ensure that every child is wanted? Despite the desire to …
