Nebraska Change State Legislative Term Limits from Two to Three Consecutive Terms Amendment (2026)

Nebraska Change State Legislative Term Limits from Two to Three Consecutive Terms Amendment
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic State legislative term limits
Status On the ballot
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

The Nebraska Change State Legislative Term Limits from Two to Three Consecutive Terms Amendment may appear on the ballot in Nebraska as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to change the term limit for state legislators from two consecutive terms (eight years) to three consecutive terms (12 years).

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to change the term limit for state legislators, thereby maintaining that state legislators are not eligible for office in the legislature for four years after serving two consecutive terms (eight years).

Overview

How would the amendment change state legislative term limits in Nebraska?

See also: Text of measure

The amendment would change state legislative term limits for the Nebraska State Senate. Currently, state legislators are not eligible for office in the legislature for four years after serving two consecutive terms (eight years). The amendment would increase this to three consecutive term limits (12 years). This means a senator who serves from 2020 to 2032 could serve again in 2036.

Nebraska is unicameral, which means it only has one chamber (Nebraska State Senate).

When did Nebraska adopt state legislative term limits?

See also: Nebraska Initiative Measure 415, State Legislative Term Limits Amendment (2000)

Nebraska voters adopted state legislative term limits in 2000 with the approval of Initiative Measure 415. It was passed by a margin of 55.8% to 44.2%.

In 2012, Nebraska voters defeated an amendment that would have increased the consecutive term limits for Nebraska legislators from two terms (eight years) to three terms (12 years). The vote margin was 35.4% in support of the amendment to 64.6% opposing it.

How many other states have legislative term limits?

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Nebraska is one of 16 states that currently have state legislative term limits. California, Colorado, and Oklahoma were the first to approve measures in 1990. Six states (Idaho, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) had state legislative term limits that were ultimately nullified by the state legislature or a state supreme court. To see a map with details specifying the term limits in each state, click here.

Who supports and opposes the amendment?

See also: Support and Opposition

Civic Nebraska, Common Cause, League of Nebraska Municipalities, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, and Open Sky Policy Institute endorse the amendment during the legislative process. Civic Nebraska said in a statement, "[E]xtending term limits strengthens our Legislature by keeping experienced lawmakers in office longer. Under the current system, senators must leave after eight years, even if their constituents want them to stay. This constant turnover forces lawmakers to learn on the job while lobbyists and unelected staff become the long-term holders of institutional knowledge. Serving for up to 12 years gives Nebraska’s most effective lawmakers the opportunity to continue doing the work their voters elected them to do."

Nebraska State Grange opposed the amendment during the legislative process. Ballotpedia has not located arguments in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the amendment is as follows:

“

A constitutional amendment to change the limit on legislative terms from two consecutive terms to three consecutive terms. [ ] For [ ] Against

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article III, Nebraska Constitution

The measure would amend section 12 of Article III of the state constitution. The following underlined text would be added, and struck-through text would be deleted:

Section 12

(1) No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Legislature for four years next after the expiration of three two consecutive terms regardless of the district represented.

(2) Service prior to January 1, 2001, as a member of the Legislature shall not be counted for the purpose of calculating consecutive terms in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) For the purpose of this section, service in office for more than one- half of a term shall be deemed service for a term.

Full text

The full text of the amendment can be read here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• State Sen. Rob Dover (R)

Organizations

• Civic Nebraska
• Common Cause
• League of Nebraska Municipalities
• Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
• Nebraska Association of Resources Districts
• Nebraska Bankers Association
• Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
• Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
• Nebraska Farm Bureau
• Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom
• Open Sky Policy Institute

Arguments

• State Sen. Rob Dover (R-19): "By the time a senator finally feels somewhat comfortable, they are termed out."
• Civic Nebraska: "[E]xtending term limits strengthens our Legislature by keeping experienced lawmakers in office longer. Under the current system, senators must leave after eight years, even if their constituents want them to stay. This constant turnover forces lawmakers to learn on the job while lobbyists and unelected staff become the long-term holders of institutional knowledge. Serving for up to 12 years gives Nebraska’s most effective lawmakers the opportunity to continue doing the work their voters elected them to do."

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not located a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Opponents

Organizations

• Nebraska State Grange

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2026

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through September 25, 2025.

Ballotpedia has not identified any committees registered in support of or opposition to the amendment.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Background

Nebraska Initiative Measure 415 (2000)

See also: Nebraska Initiative Measure 415, State Legislative Term Limits Amendment (2000)

Nebraska voters adopted state legislative term limits in 2000 with the adoption of Initiative Measure 415, which specified that legislators were not eligible for office in the legislature for four years after serving two consecutive terms. It was approved by 55.8% of voters.

Nebraska Amendment 3 (2012)

See also: Nebraska Amendment 3, Term Limits Amendment (2012)

In 2012, Nebraska voters defeated an amendment that would have increased the consecutive term limits for Nebraska legislators from two terms (eight years) to three terms (12 years). The vote margin was 35.4% in support of the amendment to 64.6% opposing it.

State legislatures with term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Nebraska is one of 16 states that currently have state legislative term limits. California, Colorado, and Oklahoma were the first to approve measures in 1990.

Legislative term limits can be either lifetime or consecutive. In the 10 states where the limits are consecutive, once a state legislator has served the maximum number of terms in office, he or she, if eligible, can run for office for the state's other legislative chamber, or leave the legislature. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota. After a period of time no longer in office in a particular legislative chamber, however, the legislator is allowed to run again for office in that legislative chamber. The period of time that a legislator must be out of office before being able to run again is usually two years.

In six of the 16 states with limits on state legislators, the limit is a lifetime limit. These states are California, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. In these states, once a legislator has served the maximum allowable number of terms in a particular legislative chamber, they may never again run for or hold office in that particular chamber.

Six states (Idaho, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) had state legislative term limits that were ultimately nullified by the state legislature or a state supreme court. 

The map below highlights the states with state legislative term limits by type.

The table below details state legislative term limits by limit, year enacted, and year it took effect.

States with legislative limits
Legislature	Limits in effect	Year limits imposed	Year limits took effect
Arizona Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 4 terms (8 years)	1992	H: 2000 S: 2000
Arkansas Legislature	12 consecutive years; can return after a four-year break	1992, 2014, modified 2020	H: 1998 S: 2000
California Legislature	12 year cumulative total, in either or both	1990, modified 2012	A: 1996 S: 1998
Colorado Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	1990	H: 1998 S: 1998
Florida Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	1992	H: 2000 S: 2000
Louisiana Legislature	H: 3 terms (12 years) S: 3 terms (12 years)	1995	H: 2007 S: 2007
Maine Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 4 terms (8 years)	1993	H: 1996 S: 1996
Michigan Legislature	12 year cumulative total, in either or both	1992, modified 2022	H: 1998 S: 2002
Missouri Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	Amendment 13 (1992) (also see: Amendment 3 (2002)	H: 2002 S: 2002
Montana Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	1992	H: 2000 S: 2000
Nebraska Unicameral	S: 2 terms (8 years)	2000	S: 2008
Nevada Legislature	A: 6 terms (12 years) S: 3 terms (12 years)	Initiative passed in 1996, took effect with those elected in 1998	A: 2010 S: 2010
North Dakota Legislature	H: 2 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	2022	H: 2023 S: 2023
Ohio Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 2 terms (8 years)	1992	H: 2000 S: 2000
Oklahoma Legislature	12 year cumulative total, in either or both	1990	H: 2004 S: 2004
South Dakota Legislature	H: 4 terms (8 years) S: 4 terms (8 years)	1992	H: 2000 S: 2000

Path to the ballot

Amending the Nebraska Constitution

See also: Amending the Nebraska Constitution

A 60% supermajority vote is required during one legislative session for the Nebraska State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 30 votes in the unicameral legislature, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 35% of the total votes cast in the election. This also applies to citizen initiatives.

Legislative Resolution 19CA (2025)

The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:

• January 16, 2025: Legislative Resolution 19CA was introduced.
• April 25, 2025: The legislature advanced LR19CA to enrollment and review.
• May 28, 2025: The legislature passed LR19CA by a vote of 39-10.

Partisan Direction Index = +10.4% (Bipartisan)

Democratic Support

71.4%

Republican Support

81.8%

 Nebraska State Senate

Voted on May 28, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 30
	Yes	No	NV
Total	39	10	0
Total %	79.6%	20.4%	0.0%
Democratic (D)	10	4	0
Republican (R)	27	6	0
Independent (I)	2	0	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Nebraska

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Nebraska.

How to vote in Nebraska

Poll times

In Nebraska, all polling locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Nebraska is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Nebraska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Nebraska county in which they are registering, and at least 18 years old by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Citizens are eligible to register to vote on January 1 of the year they will turn 18 before the November general election. People convicted of a felony regain the right to vote upon completion on their sentence, including parole and probation. Individuals who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. A voter registration application can be completed in person at the county clerk or election commissioner's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or other state agencies. In-person registration must be completed by the third Friday preceding the election if completed at the DMV or other state agencies. In-person registration at county election offices must be completed by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election. Applications returned by mail must be postmarked by the third Friday before the election. Online applications must be submitted by midnight on the third Friday before the election.

Automatic registration

Nebraska does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Nebraska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. The Nebraska State Senate enacted legislation allowing online voter registration in 2014, and the system was implemented in 2015.

Same-day registration

Nebraska does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In Nebraska, citizens can register to vote the day they become residents of the state.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Nebraska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any registrant who signs this application knowing that any of the information in the application is false shall be guilty of a Class IV felony under section 32-1502 of the statutes of Nebraska. The penalty for a Class IV felony is up to two years imprisonment and twelve months post-release supervision, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Voter View site, run by the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Nebraska requires voters to present identification while voting.

Initiative 432, approved by Nebraska voters in November 2022, amended Article I of the state constitution to require voters to present valid photo identification in order to vote. Governor Jim Pillen (R) signed Legislative Bill 514 into law on June 1, 2023, in order to implement this policy change. Due to this legislation, Nebraska's voter ID requirement went into effect on April 1, 2024, in time for the state's 2024 primary.

See also

2025 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2025 ballot across the U.S. and in Nebraska.

• 2025 ballot measures
• Nebraska 2025 ballot measures
• Nebraska elections, 2025

Nebraska ballot measures

Explore Nebraska's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.

• List of Nebraska ballot measures
• State legislative term limits ballot measures
• Nebraska State Legislature

Legislative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Nebraska Constitution
• Amending state constitutions

External links

• Full text

Footnotes

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