LINCOLN— The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has expanded its investigation into suspected petition fraud to all four statewide citizen-led ballot initiatives in Nebraska. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said investigators are reviewing “thousands and thousands” of potentially fraudulent signatures, with the total still unknown. The initiatives involve online sports betting, restrictions on school sports participation based on sex at birth, and limits on lawmakers’ ability to change voter-approved laws. The investigation also includes petitions submitted by former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom for his unsuccessful independent gubernatorial bid, bringing the total number of signatures connected to petitions under investigation this election cycle to more than 750,000.

The investigation originally began with suspected fraudulent signatures on three proposed Lincoln City Charter amendments backed by Good Government Lincoln. Six out-of-state petition circulators have now been arrested, including Michael Smith, 28, of St. Louis, while authorities are searching for another suspect. The original five defendants face two felony counts each for allegedly falsely swearing to circulator oaths and have waived extradition to Nebraska. Houchin said petition organizers have been cooperative and are providing investigators with requested information.

Campaign officials behind the statewide measures remain confident their initiatives will qualify for the ballot. Representatives for Fairness For Girls and Tax Relief Nebraska, which backs the online sports betting measures, said they believe they collected enough legitimate signatures despite the investigation. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has until Sept. 11 to determine whether the four initiatives have enough valid signatures to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Sheriff Terry Wagner said investigators will follow the evidence regardless of political affiliation and forward their findings to the appropriate prosecutors.

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