“Initiative 434 is clearly the best pro-life option.”

Initiative Measure 434, if passed by more votes than Initiative Measure 439, would not allow abortions during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in Nebraska unless subject to three exceptions: a medical emergency, in cases of rape or incest. Initiative Measure 434 is deliberately silent on the first trimester to allow the Legislature or future ballot initiatives to make further changes. This is a very important point to consider. Measure 434 does not allow abortion in the first trimester of the Nebraska Constitution.

Measure 439 would include a right to abortion in the Nebraska Constitution and uses fetal viability language that can be interpreted differently by different health care providers. Initiative Measure 439 includes vague language about the “life and health” of the mother, without defining either as a medical emergency. Like other states that use similar vague language, this language could allow any health care provider or abortion provider to justify terminating a pregnancy at any time. Initiative 439 will take Nebraska to extreme places we have never been before. Currently, Nebraska law does not allow abortions in the second or third trimester of pregnancy except in cases of medical emergency, rape or incest.

As of this writing, numerous polls indicate that both pro-life 434 and pro-abortion rights 439 initiatives are likely to pass. When this happens, the Initiative with the most votes will become part of our Nebraska Constitution. The same poll shows that both initiatives are almost equal, with about 60% support for each.

To my fellow pro-life voters, it is important to understand how important your pro-life vote for 434 is and what that vote against 434 or no vote at all could mean. If you vote only against both amendments (434 and 439), you will likely support the well-funded and organized abortion rights Initiative 439. Abortion rights advocates have been working to get out the vote for more than two years. . They had already successfully included abortion in six state constitutions, but the results were nowhere near the same. This includes conservative states like Nebraska. They are deceptive – and they are invincible.

Simply put, a vote against pro-life 434 could very likely help pro-abortion 439 pass with more votes, thus becoming part of the Nebraska Constitution. As much as we would like to deny it from a moral point of view, it is a political fact. The only insurance we have is to vote pro-life. 434. As President Ronald Reagan often noted, we cannot allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. It is literally a matter of life and death for innocent unborn children.

Initiative 434 is clearly the best pro-life option, and it is time to clear up some of the misinformation being spread by some in the pro-life community. Pro-life 434 does not constitutionally allow abortions up to twelve weeks. Pro-life 434 says nothing about the first trimester. This was done intentionally to allow our Nebraska Legislature or future petition initiatives to reflect the will of the people and make further changes within the first twelve weeks. If the 439 votes in support of abortion rights pass by a large majority, pro-life advocates will get none of it.

At the end of the day, I urge anyone who considers themselves a pro-life voter to vote yes on Initiative Measure 434 and vote no on Initiative Measure 439. You can’t miss this. The polls are tight and the stakes are too high to simply rely on pro-life 439 rights not passing. This approach fits right into the pro-life game plan. We can’t do this. Life depends on your voice.