Organizers of most high-profile ballot initiatives are confident they have enough petition signatures to put their issues on the November general election ballot.

Today is the deadline for submitting signatures to Secretary of State John Gale. On Thursday, leaders of separate efforts to limit state spending, build three casinos and prevent a Terri Schiavo-like situation in the state either said they had enough signatures or hinted they might.

A proposed constitutional amendment and change in state law designed to save Class I schools, meanwhile, could be in jeopardy. And a plan from Native tribes to operate an off-reservation casino is dead.

Constitutional amendments require the signatures of at least 115,000 registered voters; changes in state law require at least 80,500.

A rundown of where the initiatives stood as of Thursday:

State spending: Signs point to this constitutional amendment, which would limit increases in state spending to inflation and population changes, having enough signatures. A press conference was planned for today. Organizers planned on turning in petitions, and Mike Groene, chairman of the Stop Overspending committee, said “we didn’t get into this not to be successful — let’s put it that way.”

Three casinos: This includes one constitutional amendment and two state-law changes. A spokesman for the Las Vegas-backed casinos plan said there are enough signatures for each.

“We exactly hit our target,” said Greg Lemon. He expected 130,000 signatures for the amendment to be turned in, and 90,000 for each of the proposed changes in state law.

End-of-life: “We’re confident we’ll turn in signatures … sufficient to make it on the ballot,” said Dan Parsons, spokesman for Nebraskans for Humane Care. The proposed amendment would make it illegal for a hospital or other institution to withhold food or water from an individual, unless that person had expressly made his or her wishes known in advance through a legal document.

One casino: Three Native tribes in the state didn’t muster enough signatures to get their plan on the ballot, but their chances of operating one or more casinos is still alive. If the other casino plan is eventually approved by voters, the tribes could bid to get one or more of the three available licenses for off-reservation casinos. Also, approval of the other plan would open the door for the tribes to operate casinos on reservations.

Class I’s: There’s no certainty in this camp.

“We’re close on one of them and maybe within striking distance of the other, maybe not,” said Sharon Craichy of Nebraskans for Local Schools. The latter would re-establish Class I districts if voters repeal a Legislature-approved law that dissolved the districts in June. The constitutional amendment, which backers are more confident may have enough signatures, would require approval of school district voters before a district could be dissolved or merged.

Of course, that amendment wouldn’t help Class I districts unless the districts were somehow re-established through court, legislative or some other action.

Video keno: Supporters have indicated they have enough signatures to get this state law on the ballot. It would allow keno parlors to offer an electronic version of the game.

Signatures for the initiatives will be accepted by Gale’s office, which will then send them to counties where they were gathered so they can be verified. At least two of the ballot initiatives could face obstacles besides having enough valid signatures.

Gale said he will decide next week whether the three-casino plan violates a state constitutional provision that prohibits submitting a similar ballot proposal more than once in three years. Nebraska voters in 2004 rejected several ballot proposals to have casino gambling.

If Gale says that the casino proposal should not be allowed on the ballot, Lemon said the ruling will be challenged.

A separate challenge to keep the state-spending plan off the ballot could be posed by Nebraskans for the Good Life, a group formed to oppose the initiative.

“Legal action is an option,” said Devorah Lanner, spokesperson for the group.

“Nebraskans for the Good Life will closely monitor the verification process, as we do believe that many of the SOS (Stop Overspending) circulators engaged in illegal and fraudulent activity to get their signatures.”

Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com.