Ballot initiative seeks to add abortion ban to Nebraska Constitution

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Abortion opponents have launched an effort to add an abortion ban to the Nebraska Constitution.

The ballot initiative, according to the language released Tuesday, would prohibit abortion in the second and third trimesters, except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency.

“The vast majority of Nebraskans support well-defined, commonsense abortion limits after the first trimester of pregnancy, along with exceptions for extreme circumstances,” the Protect Women and Children Committee said in a press release.

The committee, which is made up of three nurses and a pharmacist, said the initiative is a response to another one that would make abortion a constitutional right in Nebraska.

“As medical professionals, we have an obligation to provide a commonsense alternative that reflects Nebraskans’ sensible position on abortion limits, protects women’s health and their relationship with their doctors, and preserves parental notification requirements that save lives,” the press release said.

The anti-abortion initiative mirrors the state’s current abortion law.

Jackie Ourada, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office, said Protect Women and Children has not yet submitted the final ballot language.

Once it does, it can start collecting signatures to get the initiative on the ballot.

The petition will need valid signatures from at least 10% of the state’s registered voters by July 3.

The group will also need signatures from at least 5% of voters in at least 38 counties.

There were about 1.23 million registered voters in the state as of March 1, but Ourada noted that number could be higher by July because it is a presidential election year.

So the group will need well over 120,000 signatures.