The validity of more than 40,000 signatures are being challenged in a new lawsuit filed on the anti-affirmative action initiative. David Kramer is the attorney for Nebraskans United, which is fighting the measure that will be on the November ballot in Nebraska. He tells us that some petitioners told voters that they could sign for themselves and their family members. He says 13 election commissioners and clerks around the state found fradulent activity on the part of the circulators.
But, Doug Tietz with the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative tells us that’s not the case. He says all of the County Clerks in Nebraska have rejected Nebraskans United’s arguments involving invaid signatures. Tietz says they’re trying to prevent people from voting on the issue by pulling this 11:59th hour stunt. He says they gathered 170,000 signatures, well over the 112,000 needed to put the issue on the ballot.
Tietz says Nebraskans United is trying to use every legal manuever they can. Attorney General Jon Bruning and Secretary of State John Gale are being sued by Nebraskans United because the ballot language that was adopted.
The initiative would prohibit state and local governments from giving preferential treatment to people on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin.