2024 Nebraska Election polling site, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
NEBRASKA — The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that Nebraskans with felony convictions who have completed all terms of their sentence will be able to register to vote immediately as long as they are otherwise eligible.
The decision stems from a lawsuit challenging a directive given by Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen’s to county elections officials to halt new voter registrations under LB20, a recently passed law allowing Nebraskans to register to vote immediately upon completion of their sentence, removing the previous 2-year waiting period.
Three months after a bipartisan majority of state senators ended the two-year waiting period, and just two days before the law was set to go into effect, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued an opinion arguing that only Nebraska’s Board of Pardons has the power to restore voting rights. Evnen then ordered county officials to stop letting Nebraskans with past felony convictions register to vote regardless of how much time had passed since they completed their sentence.
The state’s highest court weighed in Wednesday and ordered Evnen and county officials to reverse course and follow the new law.
As a result, Nebraskans with felony convictions who have completed all terms of their sentence will be able to register to vote immediately so long as they are otherwise eligible.
Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Nebraska, and Faegre Drinker litigated the case to victory on behalf of individual Nebraskans seeking access to the ballot and Civic Nebraska, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
Eligible Nebraskans with past felony convictions who have not yet registered must do so ahead of quickly approaching deadlines. Online registration is available through Oct. 18. The last day to register in person is Oct. 25.
Register at nebraska.gov.
Nebraskans with past felony convictions who are already registered do not need to take any additional steps before voting this November unless their name or address has changed. However, voters are encouraged to double-check their registration status ahead of Election Day to ensure they remain on the rolls.
