As this week’s election takes place on Tuesday, May 12, it is a good time to pause and reflect on both the privilege and responsibility that come with the right to vote. Whether an election is local, statewide, or national, every ballot cast helps shape the future of our communities and our country. Voter participation often varies from election to election, but the consequences of every race and every ballot measure are real and lasting.

From Omaha to Scottsbluff, the decisions made by elected officials touch nearly every part of daily life in Nebraska. These choices directly affect families, ranchers, producers, small business owners, and communities through public safety, property rights, business regulations, water resources, schools, roads, agriculture, and taxes. The individuals elected to serve, along with the policies they support, help determine the direction of our state for years to come. Your vote matters.

Equally important are the ballot measures and proposed constitutional amendments voters are asked to decide. Campaign advertisements and political messaging often reduce complex issues to catchy slogans, but sound policy is rarely that simple. In addition, most if not all, of the ballot initiatives in recent years have been largely influenced by foreign money as discovered by Attorney General Mike Hilgers. In 2022, the Legislature enacted a ban on foreign money being used in ballot initiatives in Nebraska, yet in the 2024 election cycle Swiss-based Wyss-funded entities contributed at least $10 million to Nebraska groups that campaign for ballot initiatives. The Nebraska groups that received Wyss-linked funds are Raise the Wage Nebraska, Nebraskans for Paid Sick Leave, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, Protect Our Rights (pro-abortion ballot initiative), Support Our Schools (school choice referendum), and Lincoln for Fair Housing (anti–housing discrimination initiative). The AG’s office has filed suit against them.

The message is that before casting a vote on any ballot initiative, read the actual language carefully. Consider not only what the proposal claims to do, but also how it may function in practice and how it could affect your family, your livelihood, your property, your children’s education, and the long-term future of your community. Look beyond the headlines and immediate promises. Legislation and ballot measures are often surrounded by spin and misrepresentation, which is why informed participation matters. An informed voter remains one of the strongest safeguards of a healthy democratic republic.

Much of the world does not share this fundamental freedom. Generations of Americans fought and sacrificed to secure and defend the right to choose our own leaders and shape our own laws. In too many countries, citizens have little or no say in who governs them or what rules they must live under. That hardwon liberty should never be taken for granted.

Make your voice heard. Study the issues. Vote for the candidates and policies that best reflect your values and the future you want to help build for Nebraska and our nation. Your vote matters more than you may realize, and the responsibility that comes with it is one worth taking seriously.