LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Voters in Lincoln overwhelmingly approved a change to city ordinance on Tuesday that bans housing discrimination based on a renter or buyer‘s source of income.
The unofficial final results provided by the Lancaster County Election Commission indicated that 25,450 ballots were cast in support of the ordinance, whereas 13,216 opposed it.
Approximately 7,700 early voting ballots are anticipated to be counted on Friday, May 9. Furthermore, an extra 220 provisional votes — consisting of 216 standard and four needing voter ID verification — will be tabulated on Wednesday, May 14.
The measure prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to tenants who use housing vouchers, public assistance or other lawful income sources, including those enrolled in the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program. Prior to the vote, landlords in Lincoln were allowed to deny applicants based on how they paid their rent.
The ballot initiative was spearheaded by Lincoln for Fair Housing, a coalition of nearly 20 community organizations. In a statement issued after the results were announced, the group praised the vote as a victory for equity and inclusion.
“Lincoln stood up today,” the statement read. “It stood up for dignity, for opportunity, and for the simple idea that no one should be denied safe, affordable housing based on how they pay their rent.”
The organization acknowledged the contributions of tenants, property owners, helpers, and electors who backed their initiative, referring to the measure as “an important advancement.”
But the job isn’t finished,” the statement went on. “We now have to make sure these safeguards are applied justly and that the rights of every Lincoln resident are upheld.
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