LINCOLN- A group seeking to update the Lincoln city code to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, called Let Lincoln Vote turned in over 11,000 signatures. Although they only needed around 8,900 signatures, the group turned over 20% more as a backup.

More than 100 volunteers helped collect these signatures over the past few months, standing in high heat for many hours at the DMV, farmers markets, music venues, and other locations.

Back in February, the Lincoln City Council passed a very similar ordinance with almost the same protections, but this was rescinded by opponents soon after. This prompted Let Lincoln Vote to begin their ballot initiative petition. However on Wednesday the petition was tossed by Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shivley.

Shivley stated that his office would not be able to verify the signatures because the circulators failed to disclose whether or not they were paid on each of the 633 pages of the proposed ordinance. According to Nebraska Revised Statute§ 32-628 (4), "Each sheet of a petition shall have upon its face in plain view of persons who sign the petition a statement in letters not smaller than sixteen-point type in red print on the petition. If the petition is circulated by a paid circulator, the statement shall be as follows: This petition is circulated by a paid circulator. If the petition is circulated by a circulator who is not being paid, the statement shall be as follows: This petition is circulated by a volunteer circulator."

Let Lincoln Vote's failure to disclose this payment information has brought the Fairness Ordinance to a standstill, and Shivley stated that he would be returning the petition to the clerk's office. "...no further action by my office is necessary," he writes.

Kay Siebler, of the Let Lincoln Vote campaign, stated, "We are not in despair. We are exploring different avenues forward. We won't be deterred. We will not let the voters down."

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