Several SW Nebraska counties vote against slavery exemption

McCOOK, Neb. — Voters in 26 counties in Nebraska, as well as five in Southwest Nebraska, were in favor of keeping slavery in the Nebraska Constitution as form of punishment.

Nebraska voters overall, at 68.16%, in the 20202 general election ballot, approved the state constitutional amendment that removed slavery from the Nebraska constitution as a punishment for crime.

But up to 31.86% voted against eliminating it. Voters in Red Willow County narrowly approved the measure, by 233 votes, with 2,624 votes for the removal and 2,391 against.

Voters in Hitchcock, Dundy, Frontier, Hayes and Perkins counties all voted against removing the slavery exception.

As stated in the ballot question, “A yes vote supports removing language from the Nebraska Constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. A no vote opposes this ballot measure, thus keeping language in the state constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.” The Nebraska state constitution was one of 12 state constitutions that banned slavery and involuntary servitude but included an exception for criminal punishment.

Vote tallies for Southwest Nebraska counties that voted against removing slavery as punishment were: Dundy County: 433 For, 481 Against; Frontier County: 625 For, 660 Against; Hayes County: 214 For, 268 Against; Hitchcock County: 639 For, 695 Against; and Perkins County: 674 For, 727 Against.

Other counties in Nebraska that voted against the slavery exemption were:

Arthur, 103 For, 148 Against

Banner, 180 For, 194 Against

Blaine, 111 For, 166 Against

Boyd, 423 For, 491 Against

Cherry, 1,259 For, 1,596 Against

Custer, 2,593 For, 2,611 Against

Garfield, 437 For, 476 Against

Grant, 153 For, 203 Against

Harlan, 866 For, 903 Against

Holt, 2,443 For, 2,459 Against

KeyaPaha, 203 For, 251 Against

Logan, 179 For, 207 Against

Loup, 193 For, 219 Against

McPherson, 105 For, 169 Against

Morill, 1,143 For, 219 Against

Perkins, 674 For, 727 Against

Pierce, 1,757 For, 1,8113 Against

Rock, 326 For, 413 Against

Sheridan, 1.258 For, 1,290 Against

Sioux, 283 For, 362 Against

Thomas, 177 For, 197 Against

Wheeler, 191 For, 241 Against.