In a recent vote, residents of Nebraska turned down a proposed ballot measure aimed at broadening abortion rights within the state. This failed initiative sought to solidify in the Nebraska Constitution the right to terminate a pregnancy up until viability, or potentially even later if necessary to safeguard the health of the pregnant individual.

In contrast, another abortion measure that was presented alongside this one successfully passed. This amendment effectively affirms the state’s existing 12-week abortion limit within the state constitution and opens the door to potentially implementing more stringent prohibitions in the future.

This ballot presented a unique scenario, as Nebraska became the first state to have two diverging abortion-related proposals on the same ballot since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that annulled Roe v. Wade in 2022. This ruling eradicated the federal right to abortion, marking a significant shift in the legal landscape regarding reproductive rights across the country.

The results from the election were confirmed early Wednesday, with the initiative aimed at expanding abortion rights officially declared defeated at 3:27 a.m. EST.