Nebraska officials are raising concerns about the validity of over 49,000 signatures on two petitions aimed at legalizing medical cannabis in the state. A recent legal brief filed by state Attorney General Mike Hilgers, representing Secretary of State Bob Evnen, alleges that an ongoing investigation has uncovered issues of petition circulator fraud and notary misconduct that could undermine the legitimacy of the signatures.
According to Hilgers, these issues “strip the presumption of validity” from tens of thousands of signatures gathered by advocates. The state officials are requesting the courts to determine the number of valid signatures and to potentially void the election results if the number falls short of the required threshold.
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the organization behind the petitions, has strongly criticized the state’s actions, describing them as an attempt to silence the voices of over 115,000 voters who supported the initiative. The group argues that the issues raised have no bearing on the vast majority of signatories and reflect technical concerns rather than any wrongdoing by the voters.
The filing cites allegations of fraud and misconduct in petitions circulated across 72 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. It points to instances where notaries acted as both circulators and validators of petitions, raising ethical questions about the integrity of the signature-gathering process.
As the situation unfolds, advocates for medical cannabis in Nebraska remain determined to ensure that the voices of the state’s citizens are heard and counted.
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