Voters' choice will repeal or retain Nebraska's death penalty

When voters go to the polls Nov. 8, they will see Referendum No. 426, a referendum placed on the ballot by petition of the people, which will either retain or repeal the death penalty.

A vote to retain will eliminate the death penalty and changes the maximum penalty for the crime of murder in the first degree by repealing Legislative Bill 268, passed in 2015 by the 104th Nebraska Legislature. A vote to repeal will uphold the Legislature’s action and keep the death penalty for the crime of murder in the first degree.

The Legislature voted to repeal the state’s death penalty in May 2015 and then...