The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that Secretary of State Bob Evnen did not have the authority to strip voting rights from individuals convicted of felonies.
This decision, announced just before the upcoming November election, could add hundreds of new voters to the rolls, particularly in the Omaha-centered 2nd Congressional District, where both presidential and congressional races are highly competitive.
Evnen’s initial directive, based on an opinion from Attorney General Mike Hilgers, would have barred over 7,000 Nebraskans from voting.
The opinion challenged a recently passed law restoring voting rights to individuals who had completed their felony sentences. However, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled unanimously that only the courts could deem a law unconstitutional, not state officials like Evnen or Hilgers.
The ruling is seen as a victory for civil rights groups, including the ACLU, which represented two Nebraska residents with felony records. With the election days away, this decision allows them and thousands of others to register and vote.
The decision could have significant political implications, especially in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
This district has previously awarded an electoral vote to Democratic candidates, and the race remains tight in 2024. Furthermore, competitive races for the U.S. Senate and House make the inclusion of these voters potentially pivotal.
Felony disenfranchisement has been a contentious issue nationwide, with states differing on when and if individuals with felony convictions can vote. Nebraska’s ruling follows a broader trend toward restoring voting rights, despite pushback in some states like Florida and Tennessee.