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Nebraska Child Custody Initiative (2016)

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Nebraska Child Custody Initiative
Flag of Nebraska.png
Election date
November 8, 2016
Topic
Divorce and custody
Status
Not on the ballot
Type
State statute
Origin
Citizens


Voting on
Divorce and Custody
Divorce and Custody logo.gif
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot


The Child Custody Initiative was not put on the November 8, 2016 ballot in Nebraska as an initiated state statute.

The measure outlined updated guides for the Nebraska judicial system to determine "the best interest of the child while returning the decision making to the families with specific guidelines." It would have taken effect December 15, 2016.[1]

Text of measure

Ballot summary

The proposed ballot summary was as follows:[1]

The object of this petition is to:

1. Define best interest of the child and to maximize parental involvement in a manner that equally considers both parents and is truly in the best interest of children across the State of Nebraska.
2. Reduce the burden and better guide the Nebraska Judicial System in determining the best interest of the child while returning the decision making to the families with specific guidelines.
3. Provide an updated evidentiary standard that brings the Nebraska law in line with current Supreme Court decisions and to fully protect the best interest of children, families and society without prejudice from old standards.[2]

Full text

The full text of the measure could be found here.

Support

The measure was being sponsored by the following individuals and groups:[1]

  • Jeremy Barnhill, Sr. (head sponsor)
  • Monty Schultz
  • Kids Have Rights Too
  • Ray R. Lautenschalger
  • Monty Schultz Counseling & Neurofeedback
  • Ohio Family Rights

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska

The secretary of state of state received the petition on April 21, 2015. Nebraska's signature requirement for ballot initiatives is unique amongst the states. The number of required signatures is tied to the number of registered voters in the state as of the deadline for filing signatures. For initiated state statutes, the number of signatures required is equivalent to 7 percent of registered voters at the time of the deadline. The deadline was four months prior to the general election date of November 8, 2016, which meant the signatures were due around July 8, 2016. Supporters did not submit signatures by the deadline.[3]

State profile

Demographic data for Nebraska
 NebraskaU.S.
Total population:1,893,765316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):76,8243,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:88.1%73.6%
Black/African American:4.7%12.6%
Asian:2%5.1%
Native American:0.9%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:10%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:90.7%86.7%
College graduation rate:29.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$52,997$53,889
Persons below poverty level:14.6%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Nebraska.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Nebraska

Nebraska voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Nebraska, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[4]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nebraska had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Nebraska coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nebraska Secretary of State, "Initiative Petition," accessed December 16, 2015
  2. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. "Call with Nebraska Secretary of State's Office," July 8, 2016
  4. The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.