The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that convicted felons who have completed their sentences are allowed to vote, overturning an attempt by the state's top election official to block them from voting ahead of the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Historically, Nebraska restored voting rights to former felons two years after they completed their sentences, but this year, state legislators passed a bipartisan law (L.B. 20) eliminating that two-year waiting period.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers had argued that only the state's board of pardons could restore voting rights, and Secretary of State Robert Evnen directed local registrars to prevent former felons from voting, citing concerns that L.B. 20 was unconstitutional. However, the Nebraska Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that officials had not provided sufficient evidence to prove the law's unconstitutionality.
The court ordered Secretary Evnen to lift any voting disqualifications imposed on former felons that were not consistent with L.B. 20 and to fully comply with the law moving forward. This decision reaffirms the rights of former felons to vote in Nebraska, marking a significant step in restoring voting access for these individuals.
Source:
NBC News
Image: CNN
