(NewsNation) — Faced with dueling abortion ballot initiatives, Nebraska voters have chosen to solidify the state’s 12-week abortion ban.
Unlike other U.S. states where voters decided on a single ballot initiative, Nebraska voters considered two competing measures.
Current Nebraska law bans abortions after 12 weeks except in cases of rape, incest or for the safety of the pregnant patient.
Nebraska Initiative 434 — the Protect Women and Children Amendment — would enshrine current Nebraska state law into the state’s constitution, prohibiting abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy.
It would keep the exceptions for a medical emergency or if the pregnancy is the result of a sexual assault or incest.
The Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right To Life, Priests for Life and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America supported the ballot proposal that would prohibit abortions after the first trimester.
Supporters of Initiative 434 contributed just more than $4.1 million on the ballot measure, according to OpenSecrets.
A competing measure —Nebraska Initiative 439 — proposed amending the state constitution to allow an abortion to the point of fetal viability. Decision Desk HQ has not called the race for that measure as of 3:38 p.m. ET.
The point of fetal viability is typically around 24 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
It would establish a “fundamental right” to an abortion without fear of state or political interference, which would be outlined in the state constitution.
The measure had support from the ACLU of Nebraska, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska and other groups.
Those in favor of the measure contributed nearly $3.7 million to support it, according to OpenSecrets.
In September, the Nebraska Supreme Court allowed both initiatives to move forward after groups argued it violated a state rule for just one ballot measure per subject.
A record number of abortion measures appeared on ballots in 10 states this year.
Abortion is a polarizing issue that was expected to draw people to the polls, potentially impacting the presidential race in swing states, control of Congress and the outcomes of closely contested state offices.
It was a central issue that drove people to vote in the 2022 midterm elections, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In polling leading up to Election Day, abortion had surpassed inflation to be the top issue in the presidential election for young women.
