LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Supporters of a proposed ban on affirmative action say they have gathered about 53,000 more signatures than necessary to put the proposal before Nebraska voters.

They planned to give Secretary of State John Gale what they claimed were 167,000 petition signatures on Thursday. They need about 114,000 to be verified by Gales' office to make it on the November ballot.

Many signatures are found to be invalid following petition drives. And a Nebraska group that opposes this proposal claims some signatures were gathered illegally and may challenge the validity of them.