In Nebraska, voters will be able to decide on two competing ballot initiatives related to abortion rights in November. One initiative, sponsored by pro-abortion rights groups, seeks to establish a fundamental right to abortion up to 24 weeks and to protect the mother’s life or health after that. The other initiative, supported by anti-abortion doctors, would ban abortion after the first trimester with exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, or incest. Both initiatives collected record-breaking numbers of signatures and were found to address a single subject by the state’s Supreme Court.
The winning measure must receive at least 35% of the vote, and if both initiatives meet this threshold, the one with the most votes will pass. Supporters of the pro-abortion rights initiative believe it will end the current abortion ban and protect access to abortion in Nebraska. On the other hand, opponents are concerned about unregulated late-term abortions if the initiative passes, calling it intentionally deceptive.
Nebraska is one of nine states expected to vote on abortion rights in November, with abortion rights advocates aiming to reverse new abortion bans and restrictions passed by Republican-controlled states following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling on abortion rights. The upcoming election will likely have significant implications for abortion rights in the state.
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