Decoding the 2022 Nebraska General Election Ballot
Civic Notes
Nebraska General Elections 2022
Like you, we believe that democracy is strongest when our society is engaged and informed. That’s never more true than when we mark our ballots to choose the direction of our community, state, and nation.
An election ballot can be confusing. Sure, you’ve likely been paying attention to the big races like those for president. But as a voter, it’s possible you’ll encounter a race or two on your ballot that will be a surprise to you. You might think, Hmm, I didn’t know we voted for that.
That’s why before each general election Husker Vote Coalition develops an informational guide to the elected offices upon which Nebraskans regularly vote, as well as for what those offices are actually responsible. State and local government has a real impact on our day-to-day lives, and voting in those races couldn’t be more important.
We’ve assembled this resource so you can pair it with your independent research on the 2022 Nebraska individual candidates running for the various elected offices on the ballot this spring. Decoding the Ballot doesn’t parse candidates’ talking points into sound bites for you to mull – during an election year, there are no shortage of voters’ guides in local newspapers, official campaign materials, and websites.
Decoding the Ballot provides much-needed context for you about the duties and responsibilities of the offices that are entrusted to the will of the voters, so you can make informed decisions on who is best to fill each role. Each entry includes a brief description of the office’s responsibilities and term limits.
Constitutional Amendments and Ballot Initiatives
Nebraska Amendment 1, the Authorize Local Governments to Develop Commercial Air Travel Service Amendment, is on the ballot in Nebraska as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on Nov. 8, 2022.
A ‘yes’ vote supports amending the state Constitution to authorize any city, county or other political subdivision that operates an airport to spend revenue to develop commercial air travel.
A ‘no’ vote opposes amending the state Constitution to authorize and city, county, or other political subdivision that operates an airport to spend revenue to develop commercial air travel at the local airport.
Initiative 432
The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to require that, before casting a ballot in any election, a qualified voter shall present valid photographic identification in a manner specified by the Legislature to ensure the preservation of an individual’s rights under the United States Constitution.
Initiative 433
The object of this Petition is to amend Nebraska’s minimum wage law to increase the state minimum wage from nine dollars ($9.00) per hour to ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour on Jan. 1, 2023, to twelve dollars ($12.00) per hour on Jan. 1, 2024, to thirteen dollars and fifty cents ($13.50) per hour on Jan. 1, 2025, and to fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour on Jan. 1, 2026, to be adjusted annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living.
U.S. Representative in Congress
2 year
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as The People’s House, are made up of 435 representatives allocated to districts given to a state based on their population. Nebraska has three members of Congress. The House has the sole power to draft and introduce bills related to revenue and impeachment cases sent to the Senate.
The House is a non-continuing body, meaning all members are elected at the same time. See a map of Nebraska’s Congressional districts.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
4 year; limited to two consecutive terms
The Governor of Nebraska is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Nebraska. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms with at least one term intervening before the same individual may seek the office again. The Lieutenant Governor is the second ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed the governor.
Attorney General
4 year
The Attorney General is the chief representative for legal matters of for the state. The attorney general is separated into the civil litigation bureau, criminal bureau, legal services bureau and the public protection bureau. The duties and authority of the office are derived from the Nebraska Constitution, statutory enactments and common law.
State Treasurer
4 year
The State Treasurer is the chief financial officer of Nebraska’s government. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the state funds by investing and maintaining the state budget. The department’s main purpose is to invest state funds and maintain accurate records of transactions enacted by the state. The state office also disperses funds to local governments as needed, keeps track of unclaimed property and helps with investments.
State Auditor
4 year
The Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts is an executive position in Nebraska’s state government. The mission of the office is “to provide independent, accurate, and timely audits, reviews, or investigations of the financial operations of Nebraska State and local governments.”
Nebraska State Senator
4 year; limited to two consecutive terms
Members of the country’s only unicameral legislative body create laws and make the rules for Nebraskans under certain constitutional limitations. This body also oversees many health care services and decides how much money public schools (from kindergartens to colleges) receive each year. If you are concerned about who pays how much in taxes and how those funds get spent, this is a very important election.
Regents of the University of Nebraska System
6 year
The duties of the Board of Regents include providing strategic leadership to the four-institution university system, promoting and advocating for the advancement of the system’s mission of education, research and outreach. Among its duties is the selection of the system president and approving budgets, and tuition rates.The board is made up of eight voting members.
Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court
6 year
The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six associate justices. The Chief Justice, who represents the state at large, is appointed by the governor from a statewide list of candidates selected by a judicial nominating commission. The six remaining associate justices are chosen by the same judicial nominating commission procedure but each represents one of six districts. These judicial districts are approximately equal in population and are redistricted by the Legislature after each census.
Nebraska Bar Association 2022 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results
Judge of the District Court
6 year term
The district courts are Nebraska’s general jurisdiction trial courts. This means that with a few exceptions, civil and criminal cases of all types may be commenced in and tried by the district courts. District courts also function as appellate courts in deciding appeals from various administrative agencies and from most county court cases. When acting as an appellate court, a district judge reviews the record of testimony and evidence from the county court or administrative agency to rule on the appeal.
Nebraska Bar Association 2022 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results
Member of the State Board of Education
4 year term
The State Board of Education is composed of eight voting members that represent one of Nebraska’s eight educational districts. This board is responsible for creating educational standards, and directing state dollars and federal programs for Nebraska’s classrooms. The Board of Education also appoints the commissioner for the Department of Education, and carries out federal education programs.
Member of the Public Service Commission
6 year
The Public Service Commission is a constitutionally created executive body comprising five seats including one chairperson. This commission is responsible for regulating telecommunications carriers, natural gas jurisdictional utilities, major oil pipelines, railroad safety, household goods movers and passenger carriers, grain warehouses and dealers, construction of manufactured and modular homes and recreational vehicles, high-voltage electric transmission lines, and private water company rates. The Commission also oversees and administers the Nebraska Universal Service Fund, the Enhanced Wireless 911 Fund, and the Nebraska Telecommunications Relay System Fund.
Two of the Commission’s five seats – District 4 and District 5 – are up for election in 2022. See map of Public Service Commission districts
Judge of the Nebraska Court of Appeals
6 year
The Court of Appeals consists of six judges appointed by the Governor from lists submitted by judicial nominating commissions. From the six judges, a chief judge is selected to serve a 2-year renewable term. The districts from which the Court of Appeals judges are appointed are the same as those used for the six Supreme Court justices. The Court of Appeals is divided into two panels consisting of three judges each. The panels decide separate cases to expedite the processing of appeals. The composition of the panels changes periodically so that all the judges work with each other at some time.
Nebraska Bar Association 2022 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results
Judge of the Juvenile Court
6 year
Nebraska has three separate juvenile courts in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties. In the remaining counties, juvenile matters are heard in the county courts. Separate juvenile courts are courts of record and handle matters involving neglected, dependent, and delinquent children. The court also has jurisdiction in domestic relations cases where the care, support, or custody of minor children is an issue. The three separate juvenile courts have the same jurisdiction and employ the same procedures as the county courts acting as juvenile courts.
Nebraska Bar Association 2022 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results
Community College Board of Governors
4 year
Depending on where you live, you may have a Community College Board of Governors race. The board manages a community college’s staff and professors. It also develops its education programs based on its community’s needs. This includes setting tuition prices, setting the college’s budget and deciding the amount that may be collected from your property tax bill.
Member, Natural Resource District Board of Directors
4 year
The Nebraska Association of Resource Districts is governed by a 23-member Board of Directors, each representing a natural resource district. The NRD Board of Directors decides how much is collected from your property tax bill for the NRD and uses that money for projects such as building dams, drainage ditches, flood control, and recreation trails. NRDs are also responsible for preserving and protecting groundwater and other natural resources for future generations.
Public Power Districts
6 year
Nebraska is unique for being the only state where electrical needs are provided by publicly owned utilities, which are largely known as public power districts. Depending on where you live, you may have a race to fill a seat on a board that serves one of the 166 community-owned utilities in Nebraska. Individuals elected to serve on a Board of Directors for a public power district will set the rates for residents and make decisions about investments in future energy sources.
Educational Service Units
4 year
Educational Service Units (ESUs) are political subdivisions that serve schools within their county-defined area by creating programs to support teachers and students. Core services provided by ESUs (in order of priority) are: staff development related to helping students achieve success who are impoverished and/or who come from diverse backgrounds; technology that helps assist distance education services; and providing instructional material services. ESUs may receive funds from local property taxes.
Judge of the County Court
6 year
The county courts are trial courts with specified limited jurisdiction. All small claims, probate, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, and municipal ordinance violation cases are filed in the county courts. Except in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties, where juvenile cases are handled by Separate Juvenile Courts, most juvenile matters are handled by the county courts. County courts conduct preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases. The county courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in some divorce cases and other civil cases involving $57,000 or less. They also have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in misdemeanor criminal and traffic infraction cases, but nearly all of those cases are prosecuted in the county courts.
Nebraska Bar Association 2022 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results
Douglas-Sarpy Learning Community
4 year
The Learning Community works in Douglas and Sarpy counties to help develop school programs that reverse the impact of poverty on learning. This used to be funded by a common levy but is now funded by property taxes.
Director, Board of Metropolitian Utilities District of Omaha
6 year
The Metropolitan Utilities District of Omaha is a public utility that is customer-owned. The district provides public gas and drinking water to Omaha and the surrounding area. The Board of Directors sets rates & ensures water meets or exceeds all state and federal standards for drinking water. The district is governed by an elected board of 7 directors who serve 6-year terms. In 2022, two of the seven seats – subdivisions 6 and 7 are open for election. See a map of MUD subdivisions.
Reclamation Districts
6 year
Reclamation Districts provide for the conservation of the water resources of the State of Nebraska and for the greatest beneficial use of water within the state, organization of reclamation districts and the construction of works that are declared by such districts as a public use and will.