Scott Petersen: Lincoln Petition Fraud Arrests Reinforce Need for Election Integrity at Every Stage of the Process

OMAHA, Neb. — Republican nominee for Nebraska Secretary of State Scott Petersen today issued the following statement regarding the arrests announced in connection with alleged fraud involving petitions for three proposed Lincoln city charter amendments.

"The arrests announced today are a reminder that election integrity begins long before Election Day.

Election integrity isn't limited to casting and counting ballots. It includes every step of the process from petition circulation and voter registration to ballot certification and records retention.

Nebraska's petition process is one of the most important ways citizens participate directly in their government. Whether it's an initiative petition, a referendum, or a local charter amendment, every signature represents the voice of a Nebraskan, and that process must be protected.

If these allegations are proven true, those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law. Fraud has no place in our elections or in our petition process, regardless of the issue or who stands to benefit. Public confidence depends on applying the law fairly, consistently, and without political influence.

This case also demonstrates why verification safeguards matter. Petition signatures, like voter registration records, must be carefully reviewed and validated to protect the integrity of the process. Nebraskans deserve confidence that only valid signatures qualify measures for the ballot and that every petition is evaluated according to the law, not politics.

As Nebraska's next Secretary of State, I will continue advocating for secure, transparent, and accountable election administration. Whether we're talking about voter registration, petition signatures, candidate filings, or ballot measures, the principle remains the same: every lawful voice deserves to be heard, and every safeguard should be in place to protect the integrity of our elections.

Election integrity doesn't begin when the polls open. It begins the moment a signature is placed on a petition."

Petersen said the allegations also serve as a reminder that election administration extends well beyond Election Day and includes every step of the process from voter registration and petition verification to ballot preparation, vote tabulation, certification, and records retention.

"As Secretary of State, my commitment will be to strengthen public confidence through transparency, accountability, and consistent application of the law," Petersen said. "Nebraskans deserve an election system they can trust from beginning to end."