The statutory initiative that would allow Nebraskans to play keno using video machines has collected enough valid signatures to be placed on the Nov. 7 ballot, Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale announced last Wednesday, August 30th.
Advanced Gaming Technologies Inc. of Bellevue, Big Red Lottery Services Ltd. of Omaha, Hastings Keno Inc. of Hastings and Papillion Keno Inc. of Papillion sponsored this video keno proposal.
The review of signatures on the constitutional initiative regarding humane care was not complete and counties were still verifying signatures on that petition, Gale said.
County election offices verifies the validity of the signatories in the petition after it is submitted to the Secretary of the State's Office
The video keno petition had 90,309 valid signatures with all 93 counties reporting. It only needed 79,585 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot, it is equivalent to 7 percent of registered voters statewide.
Moreover, in each of 49 counties, the initiative had valid signatures from 5 percent of registered voters, surpassing the threshold of 38 counties needed.
A lawsuit challenging the placement of the video keno proposal on the ballot is pending in Lancaster County District Court.
The initiative sponsored by Thomas Mann of Omaha, The humane care proposal would require water and nutrition with end-of-life care unless a person has a valid advance directive or living will authorizing withholding of food or water.
Saturday, September 02 , 2006
John M. Thorpe
