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Death penalty foes challenge 'slanted' ballot language

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Opponents of a campaign to reinstate Nebraska's death penalty have filed a lawsuit arguing that ballot language drafted by the attorney general's office is slanted in favor of death penalty supporters.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Lancaster County District Court asks a judge to declare that the wording is unlawfully misleading and confusing.

Nebraska lawmakers passed a death penalty repeal law in May. The ballot language submitted by Republican Attorney General Doug Peterson informs voters that retaining the law would eliminate capital punishment and change the "maximum" penalty for first-degree murder to life in prison.

Death penalty opponents say the word "maximum" is misleading because it incorrectly implies that first-degree murder convicts could face a lesser sentence than life in prison.

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