Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Friday that thousands of fraudulent signatures might have been submitted to support two ballot initiatives aimed at legalizing medical marijuana in the state. The revelation could jeopardize efforts to bring the issue to voters in November, raising questions about the future of the proposals.
Felony Charges Filed Against Petition Circulator
Hilgers held a Zoom press conference to discuss the case, revealing that a petition circulator from Grand Island has been charged with a felony for submitting fraudulent signatures across 38 petition pages. The circulator’s alleged misconduct affected the signature counts for two separate measures—one to legalize medical marijuana use and another to regulate its industry in Nebraska.
The attorney general emphasized that while the issue appears localized to this individual, it suggests broader irregularities that may impact “several thousand” signatures collected. However, Hilgers reassured the public that the individual in question had not been involved in petition campaigns outside Nebraska.
Timing of the Announcement Raises Questions
The timing of the attorney general’s announcement raised eyebrows, as it coincided with the final day for the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office to certify initiatives for the November ballot. Critics noted that Hilgers, along with other conservative Republicans, opposes the medical marijuana measures.
Despite the timing, Hilgers defended the investigation, stating that any petition—regardless of its subject matter—would undergo similar scrutiny. He also noted that while the Secretary of State Bob Evnen would conduct his own review of the findings, the court could later step in to invalidate the proposals if enough irregularities are found.
Widespread Impact of Invalid Signatures
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the advocacy group behind the initiatives, collected over 114,000 signatures for each of the two petitions, well above the required threshold of approximately 86,000. The group did not immediately return requests for comment following the attorney general’s announcement.
Hilgers warned that even if the petitions are certified for the ballot, the fraudulent signatures could lead to legal challenges. A court could potentially block the counting of votes or overturn any new laws passed as a result of the initiatives.
