The death penalty debate heats up as we wind down towards Election Day.
The group wanting to keep the death penalty in Nebraska released a new poll showing Nebraskans support keeping the death penalty by a 2-to-1 margin.
Last year the Nebraska legislature passed LB 268 to repeal the death penalty.
After that, enough signatures were gathered to temporarily stop the legislature's decision and wait until election time and let voters decide.
The group Repeal the Repeal--to reinstate capital punishment released a poll of 600 likely Nebraska voters taken earlier this month showing Nebraskans overwhelmingly support keeping the death penalty.
They asked the question-“If the election was held today--would you vote to retain or repeal l-b 268, that is eliminate the death penalty by voting to retain LB 268 or keep the death penalty by voting to repeal LB 268?
The findings show--
Definitely Retain LB 268 (no DP) 24.2%
Probably Retain LB 268 (no DP) 6.2%
Definitely Repeal LB268 (keep DP) 47.8%
Probably Repeal LB268 (keep DP) 10.5%
Undecided 11.3%
Total 100.0%
Those against that effort say--the poll is skewed.
“Frankly it's a flawed poll,” said Dan Parsons with Retain a Just Nebraska, the group trying to get rid of the death penalty.
Parsons said this poll isn't an accurate statement measurement on how Nebraskans view the death penalty.
“Really this leads Nebraskans into thinking that there's no other options in getting rid of the death penalty,” said Parsons.
The group thinks if it were worded—‘replace the death penalty for life in prison without parole’ the answers would be different.
It’s not as black and white as a poll question saying do you favor the death penalty or not.
