Recall option proposed for statewide office holders

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee considered a proposed constitutional amendment Feb. 11 that would allow Nebraska voters to recall statewide office holders.

If passed by the Legislature, LR305CA, introduced by Central City Sen. Loren Lippincott, would put the question before voters at the 2026 general election. If approved by voters, the Legislature would have to adopt enacting legislation to establish procedures for the process.

Current state law allows for the recall of local elected officials. State senators, the governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general and auditor of public accounts would be covered under the proposed constitutional amendment.

Lippincott said an elected official who is acting in bad faith could do considerable harm before voters have an opportunity to vote them out of office at the next regular election. In light of that, he said, the recall option should apply equally to all who serve in public office.

Other states with similar rules have shown that the power of recall is rarely exercised and even more rarely successful, Lippincott said, noting that only two governors have ever been successfully recalled.

“At its core, this resolution is about reinforcing a fundamental principle of Nebraska government,” he said, “and that is that ultimate authority rests with the people.”

Jessie McGrath testified in favor of the proposal. She said recall powers would give voters another option for action if, for example, a statewide elected official engaged in self-dealing and the attorney general refused to investigate.

“It is an effective way to have the citizenry hold elected officials accountable and hold those officials to doing their job” McGrath said.

No one testified in opposition and the committee took no immediate action on the proposal.