Paid sick leave, medical marijuana legalization, school voucher repeal pass in Nebraska

Nebraskans passed medical marijuana legalization, solidified the state’s 12-week abortion ban in the constitution, implemented paid sick leave for workers, and repealed a voucher program for private schools on Election Day.

While the Cornhusker state joined a few other states in passing paid sick leave for workers, a measure expanding abortion rights was not as successful as it was in other states, including Arizona and Missouri.

Here’s how Nebraskans voted on six separate ballot measures this election year.

On Tuesday, Nebraskans voted on two abortion-related ballot measures. One would add the right to access abortions to the state constitution, and the other would enshrine the state’s current 12-week ban - with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother - in the constitution.

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The other option before voters, sponsored by a coalition of pro-abortion rights organizations, including a Planned Parenthood affiliate, would’ve established a “fundamental right” to abortion up to fetal viability, which is typically around 24 weeks, and to protect the mother’s life or health after that.

“While today is a disappointing day, the fight for our fundamental rights and freedoms never ends,” Protect Our Rights campaign manager Allie Berry said in a statement Wednesday. “Over 400,000 Nebraskans came together to protect those rights. We will not ignore their voices. We will come together and continue to organize and strategize for reproductive freedom.”

Representatives for the measure would not allow abortion in the second or third trimester, except in cases of medical emergency or pregnancies resulting from incest or sexual assault, did not immediately respond to requests to comment.

After failing in the Nebraska Legislature twice, 75% of voters in the state pushed a measure ensuring paid sick leave for workers across the finish line.

The measure requires businesses with 20 or more employees to offer up to seven days of paid sick leave per year and companies with fewer than 20 employees to offer up to five days of paid sick leave per year.

“The issue of paid sick leave has been supported by the majority of Nebraskans for decades, and now, thanks to the voters, we can ensure that hard-working Nebraskans don’t have to choose between paying their bills or caring for their health,” Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans Campaign Manager Jodi Lepaopao said in a statement.

“This is not the end or the beginning, but another step in our collective efforts to ensure that working families in Nebraska can thrive. We end this election cycle grateful to those who continue to organize for worker’s rights and advocate for a better life for us all.”

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia currently have mandatory paid sick leave. Similar measures also passed in Missouri and Alaska on Election Day.

A nearly two-year long back-and-fourth between school choice supporters and public school advocates in Nebraska was settled at the ballot box Tuesday when voters chose to repeal a law allocating state funds to private school vouchers.

Around 57% of voters chose to repeal a law passed in April that directly put a $10 million appropriation towards private school vouchers.

In 2023, the state legislature passed the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which directed $25 million from state coffers to a tax credit for donations to private school scholarship funds. After Support Our Schools, a public school advocacy group, successfully got a measure on the ballot to repeal the law in January, the legislature overrode the measure.

After the new appropriation was passed, Support Our Schools launched a second successful effort to put its repeal before voters.

Supporters of the private school voucher program argue it helps underprivileged kids access better resources and educational opportunities, while opponents say it deprives public schools of funding.

After a decade-long fight to legalize medical marijuana in the state, over 70% of Nebraskans are in favor of the effort, becoming one of the last states to do so.

Nebraskans for Medical Cannabis sponsored two measures: one decriminalizes the use of medical marijuana and creates protections for patients and caregivers, and another legalizes possessing, manufacturing, distributing, delivering and dispensing cannabis for medical purposes and creates a state commission to regulate the drug.

“We are so proud that Nebraskans have finally had their voice heard on this issue,” Nebraskans for Medical Cannabis campaign manager, Crista Eggers told USA TODAY. “We were the campaign that lead this, but this was done by the people for the people.”

While both measures were successful, they are still up in the air due to legal challenges to the measures in Lancaster County District Court over the validity of signatures collected to get the measure on the ballot.