Nebraska petition pushes referendum closer to decide on online sports betting launch in 2026

Petition organisers collected valid signatures from at least five per cent of registered voters in 55 counties

Nebraska’s Secretary of State’s office announced that signature thresholds have been met for both the Online Sports Wagering Authorisation Constitutional Amendment petition and the Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative petition to appear on the 2026 general election ballot.

To qualify for the ballot, a constitutional amendment petition requires valid signatures from at least 10 per cent of registered voters in Nebraska and at least five per cent of registered voters in 38 counties. The Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment petition collected at least 138,473 valid signatures. Petition organizers collected valid signatures from at least five per cent of registered voters in 64 counties. The Elections Division instructed county election offices to conclude signature verification after the number of valid signatures met the 110 per cent threshold as permitted in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1409.

To qualify for the ballot, a statutory initiative petition requires valid signatures from at least seven per cent of registered voters in Nebraska and at least five per cent of registered voters in 38 counties. Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative petition collected at least 96,918 valid signatures. Petition organisers collected valid signatures from at least five per cent of registered voters in 55 counties. The Elections Division instructed county election offices to conclude signature verification after the number of valid signatures met the 110 per cent threshold as permitted in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1409.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office will hold public hearings on these ballot measures in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, as well as produce an informational brochure about the ballot measures. The dates and locations of district hearings will be announced at a later date.

County election offices and the State’s Elections Division are still processing the Protect Nebraskans’ Initiative and Referendum Powers Constitutional Amendment petition and the Fairness for Girls Constitutional Amendment petition.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office must certify the 2026 general election ballot by 11 September 2026. All petitions will be processed and announced by that date