Nebraska 1972 ballot measures
In 1972, voters decided on 18 statewide ballot measures in Nebraska on May 9 and 16 measures on November 7.
- All 34 were legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
- Voters approved 30 (88.2%) and rejected four (11.8%).
On the ballot
May 9
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 10 | Repeal the obsolete provision regarding the election of U.S. Senators. |
|
234,047 (79%) |
62,842 (21%) |
|
| Amendment 11 | Revise Article 17 to remove obsolete language and sections related to elections and terms of office. |
|
220,803 (77%) |
66,448 (23%) |
|
| Amendment 12 | Transfer provisions for industrial development bonds to a new section and remove outdated provisions concerning donations to railroads and internal improvements. |
|
178,140 (63%) |
104,162 (37%) |
|
| Amendment 13 | Clarify constitutional provisions concerning the militia. |
|
202,172 (70%) |
85,073 (30%) |
|
| Amendment 14 | Clarify and revise constitutional provisions concerning corporations, including retaining regulatory powers and transferring certain sections. |
|
178,361 (65%) |
97,246 (35%) |
|
| Amendment 15a | Remove the six-month residency requirement, allowing the legislature to determine proper residency and expanding voting methods to include electronic voting. |
|
180,208 (61%) |
113,567 (39%) |
|
| Amendment 15b | Eliminate the requirement that individuals be exempt from military duty on election day and clarify the use of voting machines. |
|
164,230 (60%) |
109,508 (40%) |
|
| Amendment 15c | Allow the legislature to determine the residency of members of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Nebraska and voting methods other than paper ballots. |
|
167,375 (61%) |
107,260 (39%) |
|
| Amendment 16 | Provide that state public funds not be appropriated to private schools not owned or controlled by the state. |
|
173,405 (51%) |
163,683 (49%) |
|
| Amendment 1 | Remove obsolete language about a bicameral legislature. |
|
255,656 (80%) |
62,482 (20%) |
|
| Amendment 2 | Remove restrictions on the duration of legislative appropriations and the limitation on deficiency appropriations. |
|
150,352 (51%) |
145,460 (49%) |
|
| Amendment 3 | Require the governor to submit a budget bill, change veto powers, and require a three-fifths vote to override vetoes and amendments exceeding the budget. |
|
198,201 (65%) |
108,024 (35%) |
|
| Amendment 4 | Allow the creation or abolishment of juvenile court judicial districts by a majority of voters, rather than requiring a majority vote of all electors in the district. |
|
174,096 (58%) |
125,622 (42%) |
|
| Amendment 5 | Clarify the Legislature's duty to certify the election of the candidate with the highest number of votes for each elective executive office. |
|
244,376 (80%) |
59,945 (20%) |
|
| Amendment 6 | Remove outdated language in the constitution that related to the bicameral, or two-house, legislature. |
|
240,046 (80%) |
60,994 (20%) |
|
| Amendment 7 | Remove language requiring a biennial budget for the Supreme Court and require the Supreme Court to conform their budget preparation with the annual sessions of the legislature. |
|
228,368 (77%) |
66,496 (23%) |
|
| Amendment 8 | Reduce the minimum voting age to 18 years. |
|
218,569 (70%) |
92,838 (30%) |
|
| Amendment 9 | Allow state and local governments to work jointly or cooperatively with other governmental entities. |
|
183,458 (63%) |
107,092 (37%) |
November 7
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 10 | Revise constitutional provisions relating to education and clarify the authority of the legislature regarding the education of persons not between the ages of five and 21 years of age. |
|
320,909 (72%) |
126,737 (28%) |
|
| Amendment 11 | Authorize the legislature to grant municipalities the power to finance and maintain off-street parking through special assessments or taxes. |
|
246,893 (54%) |
210,173 (46%) |
|
| Amendment 12 | Increase the judicial nominating commissions, change voting rules, require public release of candidates' names, and clarify voting procedures for Supreme Court nominations. |
|
261,380 (59%) |
184,193 (41%) |
|
| Amendment 13 | Allow the legislature to adjust retirement benefits for public employees based on changes in cost of living and wage levels after retirement. |
|
283,686 (60%) |
190,093 (40%) |
|
| Amendment 14 | Remove the State Tax Commissioner from the State Board of Equalization and Assessment and add a new member to the Board by the legislature. |
|
218,761 (49%) |
227,652 (51%) |
|
| Amendment 15 | Remove exceptions for legislative eligibility and provide standards and definitions for determining conflicts of interest from the legislature. |
|
237,263 (54%) |
200,183 (46%) |
|
| Amendment 16 | Change the name of the State Railway Commission to the Public Service Commission. |
|
282,678 (61%) |
177,575 (39%) |
|
| Amendment 1 | Require legislators to be 21 years old and make necessary terminology corrections. |
|
368,109 (72%) |
140,448 (28%) |
|
| Amendment 2 | Reduce the required vote for changing the number of judges and judicial district boundaries to a simple majority. |
|
247,609 (52%) |
224,907 (48%) |
|
| Amendment 3 | Allow the legislature to set its own salary, removing the fixed $400 per month limit. |
|
169,310 (34%) |
326,063 (66%) |
|
| Amendment 4 | Provide the right of appeal in all felony cases. |
|
291,348 (65%) |
155,048 (35%) |
|
| Amendment 5 | Rearrange provisions for handling vacancies in office and the line of succession to the governor. |
|
266,481 (59%) |
186,734 (41%) |
|
| Amendment 6 | Clarify language concerning the eligibility of persons for public office. |
|
334,085 (74%) |
116,558 (26%) |
|
| Amendment 7 | Allow the legislature to base land valuations for agricultural and horticultural use solely on its current use, without considering potential non-farm development value. |
|
250,672 (53%) |
220,656 (47%) |
|
| Amendment 8 | Allow members and employees of the legislature to be included in the state retirement system that covers other state officers and employees. |
|
222,724 (48%) |
244,581 (52%) |
|
| Amendment 9 | Provide per diem compensation for legislators when the legislature is not in session. |
|
177,554 (38%) |
292,472 (62%) |
Historical context
The inventory of Nebraska statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the Nebraska Historical Ballot Measures Factbook.
Between 1860 and 2025, Nebraskans voted on 424 state ballot measures. Of those, 266 (63%) were approved, and 158 (37%) were defeated.
The Nebraska State Legislature has referred 296 ballot measures to the state ballot between 1860 and 2025, while 80 citizen initiatives were on the statewide ballot. Additionally, 48 measures originated from one of the state’s constitutional conventions.
Legislatively referred measures were approved 67% of the time, as compared to 46% for citizen initiatives.
The average number of measures per decade was between 24 and 25. The decade with the most ballot measures was the 1970s, with 76. Forty-nine measures (64%) were approved, and 27 (36%) were defeated. The decade that had the highest approval rate was the 1920s, which featured 48 measures—44 (92%) were approved. The decade with the lowest approval rating was the 1890s. None of the 18 measures were approved.
Types of ballot measures in Nebraska
- See also: Types of ballot measures in Nebraska
Citizen-initiated ballot measures
In Nebraska, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums. In 1912, voters adopted a constitutional amendment allowing for initiatives and referendums.
Initiated constitutional amendments
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Nebraska, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of registered voters at the signature deadline. Nebraska also has a distribution requirement that requires initiative proponents to collect signatures from 5% of the registered voters in two-fifths (38) of Nebraska's 93 counties. 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 legislative referrals.
Initiated state statutes
- See also: Initiated state statute
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Nebraska, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 7% of registered voters at the signature deadline. Nebraska also has a distribution requirement that requires initiative proponents to collect signatures from 5% of the registered voters in two-fifths (38) of Nebraska's 93 counties. 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.
Veto referendums
- See also: Veto referendum
A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. This type of ballot measure is also called statute referendum, popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that allow citizens to initiate veto referendums.
In Nebraska, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum is equal to 5% of registered voters at the signature deadline for a referendum and 10% of registered voters to suspend the law until the referendum. Nebraska also has a distribution requirement that requires initiative proponents to collect signatures from 5% of the registered voters in two-fifths (38) of Nebraska's 93 counties. Signatures for veto referendums are due 90 days following the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the targeted bill was passed. 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.
Legislative referrals
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
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.
External links
See also
Footnotes
 |
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