Petition Season Draws to a Close Amid Complaints and Controversies
As the deadline looms for submitting petitions in Nebraska, the bustling activity of signature gatherers around government buildings, markets, and storefronts is winding down. While the closing of this petition season marks an end to this flurry of activity, it has also brought a series of complaints and controversies to light.
The cut-off for groups to submit petition signatures in hopes of placing their initiatives on the November general election ballot was Thursday. However, the door remains open until July 15 for those seeking to establish a new political party, a process that has sparked debates over potential spoiler candidates and misleading party names. In Lincoln, several petitions aimed at restructuring city elections are expected to circulate until early fall.
Reports from the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office indicate a surge in complaints from residents leading up to the July deadline. Between March and late June, 47 complaints were filed concerning the conduct of petition circulators. Allegations ranged from rock-throwing and repeated trespassing to misleading descriptions of petitions and confrontational behavior.
One notable incident occurred outside the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office, where a circulator was caught on security footage urinating on the building. This individual had previously been removed by the police but was allowed to return. Complaints from this location highlighted the difficulty petition circulators posed for those trying to access the office.
Similar issues arose at Lincoln’s SouthPointe Pavilions outdoor mall. Employees reported that circulators frequently returned despite being asked to leave the private property. One mid-May report detailed an encounter where circulators harassed a store employee during her lunch break, leading to a heated confrontation involving profanity and aggressive gestures.
Many complaints, particularly from female residents, described instances of harassment by male circulators. In one report, a 17-year-old girl was followed by a circulator after declining to sign a petition. The teenager eventually reported the unsettling experience to a school resource officer.
Concerns were also raised about the origins of the circulators, with some complainants suspecting they were not local. Comments such as “I hope you will do something about these people who are being paid by outside sources,” were noted in reports from Douglas County.
In Dodge County, a petitioner allegedly attacked a person with a clipboard after being filmed while engaging in a heated exchange. The incident resulted in plans to file a police report.
Other reports from a Scotts Bluff County store manager described circulators as “aggressive” both in soliciting signatures and when asked to leave premises, prompting contact with local law enforcement.
Most grievances were linked to three specific petitions: Online Sports Wagering, Fairness for Girls, and Protect Nebraskans’ Initiative and Referendum Powers, all of which are likely to appear on the November ballot due to the large volume of signatures gathered.
Addressing the concerns, a spokesperson for the Online Sports Wagering petition stated that complaints are taken seriously, with problematic circulators being removed and retraining provided to others.
Additionally, 46 individuals from several counties requested the removal of their signatures, predominantly from the Fairness for Girls petition, citing that they were misled about its intentions. An organizer from this petition was unavailable for comment.
