Minimum wage, voter ID pass

LINCOLN — Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved two initiated measures Tuesday and elected Jim Pillen as the state's next Governor.

Voters passed Initiative 433, which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2026.

The initiative will go into effect with incremental increases beginning Jan. 1, 2023 when the wage will be set at $10.50/hour. Thereafter, the wage will increase annually in January $1.50/ hour until reaching $15/hour in January 2026.

Following the 2026 increase, the minimum wage will be indexed to the cost of living based on the Consumer Price Index.

'Initiative 433 has truly been a citizen-led effort from the very start. The initiative appeared on the ballot because 160,000 Nebraskans from all 93 counties signed the citizen-led petition. Initiative 433 passed tonight because Nebraskans understand that raising the minimum wage is about respecting and rewarding hard work' said Kate Wolfe, Campaign Manager for Raise the Wage Nebraska.

Initiative 432 requires Nebraskans to show a photo identification to vote.

Its victory, with 60 percent of voters approving the initiative, comes after a decade of failed efforts in the Legislature.

The Voter ID petition, sponsored by State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, required 10 percent of registered voters in the state because it calls for an amendment to the Nebraska Constitution.

Proponents secured 136,458 validated signatures and exceeded the percentage threshold needed in 38 counties.

Advocates say the Voter ID mandate should bring more confidence to the accuracy of state elections.

Opponents are concerned it will add a barrier for some elderly, poor and minority voters that may lack state identification.

Now the Nebraska Legislature is tasked with determining specifics of how to implement the requirement.

Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen defeated Democratic State Sen. Carol Blood to become Nebraska's next Governor.