Un-Signing
"To Sign or not to Sign" series
UN-SIGNING
It doesn't happen often, and it takes some due diligence to make it happen, but if you or someone you know wishes they had not signed one or more of the petitions being circulated, they can "un-sign". These should be completed by June 30, 2026.
To do so requires contacting the County Election Office - sometimes that is the County Clerk. They have an affidavit you sign stating which petition(s) you wish to remove your signature from, and it has to be notorized. Following find the contact information for the offices in our 7-county target area:
Douglas County: 12220 W Center Road, Omaha, NE 68144, (402) 444 - 8683 (VOTE)
Sarpy County: 1102 E. 1st Street, Ste #1, Papillion, NE 68046, 402-593-2167
Cass County: 145 N. 4th Street-Rm 201, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, 402-296-9309
Lancaster County: 601 N 46th Street, Lincoln, NE 68503-3720, 402-441-7311
Washington County: 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008, 402-426-6822
Seward County: 529 Seward Street, Room 205, Seward, NE 68434, 402-643-2883 \
Dodge County: 435 N Park Rm 102, Fremont, NE 68025, (402) 727-2767
Our guest blogger is Nate Grasz, executive director for Nebraska Family Alliance (NFA) who provides details on why to and how to unsign the Online Sports Wagering petitions. This information is used by permission from NFA.
“Tax Relief Nebraska” Campaign Is Misleading Voters About Online Sports Betting Initiative
Nebraska Family Alliance (NFA) is raising new concerns about the campaign promoting a pair of ballot initiatives under the name “Tax Relief Nebraska” that seek to legalize 24/7 online sports betting.
“A clear look at the messaging, tactics, and numbers behind “Tax Relief Nebraska” shows it is perhaps the most deceptive ballot initiative campaign in the history of Nebraska politics,” said Nate Grasz, Executive Director of NFA.
“To tell voters this is about tax relief, when the proposal is actually a major expansion of online gambling financed by out-of-state gambling companies—whose own estimates show less than a quarter of one percent in property tax relief—is a complete sham and raises serious questions about election integrity.”
The “Tax Relief Nebraska” campaign touts a projected $87 million in state revenue over five years from online sports betting. What they don’t advertise is that, with a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue, their own projections imply Nebraskans must lose roughly $435 million to online sportsbooks over that same time period, and, with only $61 million ultimately finding its way to property tax relief, and a property tax burden over $5 billion annually and $25 billion over five years, this would offset Nebraskans’ property taxes by less than 1%.
The campaign’s own projections show their proposal depends on Nebraskans losing hundreds of millions of dollars to out-of-state gambling corporations, resulting in Nebraska families losing far more money to online gambling than they would ever receive in tax relief.
“This is not a plan to help Nebraskans retain more of their hard-earned money. This is gambling corporations running a smoke-and-mirrors campaign to push online sports betting, which has been a massive public policy failure that hurts families and puts taxpayers in a worse financial position, and the evidence is clear enough to say so,” Grasz added.
Concerns Over Campaign Messaging and Voter Outreach
Petition circulators are reportedly approaching voters with vague language about property tax relief, asking whether they support lowering property taxes in Nebraska, and urging them to sign “the property tax relief petition,” while reportedly making misleading and false statements.
This may be especially misleading to voters since other property tax-related initiatives have also been in circulation.
NFA has received concerns from voters alleging that some petition interactions have contained misleading and materially false statements about the initiatives, including claims that online sports betting is already legal in Nebraska and that their petitions do not legalize it. Such statements would misrepresent both current Nebraska law and the purpose of the initiative.
What the Campaign’s Own Numbers Show
Supporters estimate that online sports betting would generate approximately $87 million in tax revenue over five years, with roughly 70 percent, or $61 million, going to property tax relief. That sounds significant as an isolated figure, but not when placed in its proper context.
According to the campaign’s own projections, over the next five years online sports betting would generate on average:
-
- Approximately $17 million annually in state tax revenue
- Approximately $12 million annually for property tax relief
- Just 0.2 percent of Nebraska’s roughly $5 billion annual property tax burden
But because the state would tax sportsbook profits, the campaign’s own projections imply that to generate the promised revenue, Nebraskans would lose approximately $87 million each year and $435 million over five years to online sportsbooks.
In other words:
-
- Nebraskans would lose about $87 million annually.
- The state would collect about $17 million in taxes annually.
- Property owners would receive about $12 million in tax relief annually.
This means that for every $1 returned in property tax relief, Nebraskans would lose roughly $7 to online gambling.
Those figures also do not account for the broader economic and social costs of online sports betting, including reduced household spending and savings, money diverted away from local businesses, increased addiction and financial problems, and greater demand for social services.
Out-of-State Corporate Funding
The campaign supporting the initiatives has been funded almost entirely by national gambling corporations, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and other sportsbook operators, who have already contributed over $7 million to influence an election in Nebraska.
These companies, headquartered in states like New York and Massachusetts, have a direct financial interest in expanding sports betting markets while bearing none of the responsibility for the costs that would be imposed on Nebraska families, businesses, and student-athletes.
Meanwhile, leaders from Nebraska, including Tom Osborne and State Auditor Mike Foley, warned in a letter to lawmakers last year that online sports betting would turn every cell phone and tablet into a gambling device, hurt kids and families, and take millions of dollars out of Nebraska’s economy and away from Nebraska businesses.
Broader Economic and Social Costs
Studies continue to show that the legalization of online sports betting has led to significant increases in social costs, including addiction, bankruptcy, domestic violence, family instability, underage gambling, threats to student-athletes, and increased social services.
These costs are not paid for by gambling operators, but by families and taxpayers, including those who never gamble themselves.
Even Dave Ramsey, a nationally recognized personal finance expert, recently warned that sports gambling is “destroying a generation of young men,” and referred to FanDuel as “a portal to hell” and DraftKings as “kings of their own pocket book.”
Growing Concerns in Other States
While proponents argue “people are doing it already,” they fail to acknowledge that the legalization of online sports betting dramatically increases its availability, acceptance, and advertising, leading to a significant increase in the number of people gambling and losing.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in states that have legalized online sports betting have recently expressed regret, citing the social and economic impacts of allowing 24/7 online gambling, aggressive advertising, and the ease of access through mobile devices.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine went so far as to call signing a bill to legalize online sports betting his “biggest mistake” in seven years as Governor.
Petition Signature Removal
Nebraska voters deserve the full truth, especially on measures that affect families, finances, and the next generation. Voters should understand exactly what the “Tax Relief Nebraska” initiatives do, and what they do not do, before signing or supporting them.
Individuals who have signed a petition and wish to remove their signature may do so, [link or see below.] and should contact their county election office or the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office for additional information on how to remove their signature.
NFA remains committed to protecting Nebraska families, children, and student-athletes from the harms of online gambling and will continue working to ensure voters receive truthful information at the ballot box.
“Nebraska’s future will not be built on getting our kids hooked on gambling, enriching billion-dollar out-of-state corporations, and asking Nebraska families to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for pennies in tax relief. We should be strengthening families, protecting children, and building an economy that creates wealth, not one that depends on Nebraska families losing it,” Grasz said.
Signature Removal Form with Instructions
If you signed the “Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment” and “Online
Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative” petitions and changed your mind, follow these steps.
The easiest way to complete the “Affidavit for Removal of Name on Petition Form” is to:
1. Go to your county clerk’s or election commissioner’s office with the printed form.
2. For the first two lines on the form, we have prefilled the required description of the
petition: “Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment” and
“Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative.” If your form does not have the
description prefilled on those lines, you will need to add the description.
3. Include your legal name (the name you used to register to vote), your home address,
and the date you are completing the form in the presence of your county clerk/election
commissioner.
4. Sign and date the form in the presence of your county clerk/election commissioner.
5. Leave the form with your county clerk/election commissioner. They will mail the form to
the Secretary of State.
The second option is to complete the above steps in the presence of a notary public.
Once a notary signs and stamps your completed form, you can:
1. Deliver the form to your county clerk or election commissioner's office.
OR
2. Mail the form to the Secretary of State at:
Nebraska Secretary of State
P.O. Box 94608
Lincoln, NE 68509-4608
Affidavit for
Removal of Name on Petition
To: Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen
As described in Nebraska Revised Statute §32-632, I hereby request the removal
of my name from the petition to, or known as, or described as:
“Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment” and
“Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative”
I understand this affidavit must be presented at the filing office prior to or on the
day of the filing of said petition for verification.
____________________________________________________
(Printed Name of Registered Voter)
____________________________________________________
(Address of Registered Voter)
____________________________________________________
(Date Signer Requesting Removal)
__________________________________________________________________________
State of Nebraska )
) s.s.
County of ______ )
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this _____day of
_____________, 2026.
____________________________________ (Signature of Registered Voter)
(Seal)
____________________________________
(Election Official & Title or Notary Public)