LINCOLN- The importance of the upcoming November 8th election has been the talk for months. As decision days looms closer, take a look at just how significant your vote will be.

Just over half the Nebraska Legislature – 25 of 49 seats – is up for election this year. While the Legislature is officially nonpartisan, the split between Republicans and Democrats could have big consequences for the state.

Last session, there were 32 Republican senators, and 17 Democrats. It takes 33 votes to overcome a filibuster and vote on a bill. Major proposals, such as banning abortion and loosening gun laws, came within a few votes of moving forward.

This election will produce a significant turnover. At least 15 senators will be new since those votes were taken last spring, and those closely fought, hot-button issues, along with school finance, property taxes, and a host of others, will again be up for debate.

Because Legislature is officially nonpartisan, candidates appear on the ballot without party designations, there are no majority or minority leaders, and committees aren’t organized along party lines.

Many point out that the country’s only nonpartisan body is becoming and has been somewhat partisan.

Whether Nebraska voters cross party lines when they vote, and how “nonpartisan” the senators they elect actually behave, could have an important effect – not only on issues next session, but on the very idea of nonpartisanship going forward.

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