Ho-Chunk Inc. has decided to sue Northstar Campaign Systems after a petition drive they attempted in efforts to see a referendum placed on the ballot in Nebraska for casino gaming failed. The Ho-Chunk tribe were behind a drive to see casino gambling legalized in the state via horse racing tracks and their efforts failed as the signatures collected had a high error rate.

The polling company was unable to get enough valid signatures with their campaign which caused the issue not be placed on the November 2016 ballot. The tribe is suing the polling company for $1.3 million, with Northstar officials stating they did not do anything wrong and plan on fighting the lawsuit.

During the casino petition drive, around 120,000 signatures were submitted by the polling company for the proposed constitutional amendment. Of those signatures, over 41,000 were rejected. The Secretary of State’s office found that many of the signatures were completed by individuals who were not registered to vote in the state or those who had signed in a county in which they were not registered to vote.