Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Nebraska Amendment 3B, Retention Elections for Supreme and Appellate Court Justices Measure (1998)
| Nebraska Amendment 3B | |
|---|---|
| Election date |
|
| Topic State judicial selection |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Nebraska Amendment 3B was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Nebraska on November 3, 1998. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to provide for statewide retention elections for supreme court justices and appellate court judges. |
A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to provide for statewide retention elections for supreme court justices and appellate court judges. |
Election results
|
Nebraska Amendment 3B |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 198,656 | 47.11% | ||
| 222,991 | 52.89% | |||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Amendment 3B was as follows:
| “ | A constitutional amendment to provide for the retention of judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals on a statewide basis. [ ] For [ ] Against | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
A vote FOR this proposal will amend section 21 of Article V (the Judicial Article) to provide that when a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court, the appellate court, or any other inferior court, it shall be filled by the Governor within 60 days through the judicial nominating commission device, and shall provide that the Chief Justice, each judge of the supreme court, and each judge of the appellate court shall have their right to remain in office voted on by the electorate of the entire state. A vote AGAINST this proposal will continue the present constitutional provisions that when a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court, any district court, or any other court made subject to this provision by law, it shall be filled by the Governor within 60 days through the judicial nominating commission device; and further that any judge of the Supreme Court other than the Chief Justice and any district judge shall be voted on for their right to remain in office by the electorate of the district from which chosen. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
- 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.
See also
External links
Footnotes
State of Nebraska Lincoln (capital) | |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |