Nebraska’s Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s election chief acted beyond his authority in trying to block voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences. The ruling could add over 7,000 new voters to the rolls just weeks before the Nov. 5 election.
Secretary of State Bob Evnen, supported by the state attorney general, attempted to prevent felons from voting under a 2024 law restoring their rights.
The law was challenged as unconstitutional, but the court unanimously upheld it, stating that only a supermajority of justices can declare a law unconstitutional.
Evnen had ordered local officials to reject voter registrations from felons, a move criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued it could disenfranchise voters in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. This district, centered around Omaha, has swung toward Democrats in past elections, awarding electoral votes to Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020.
Felon disenfranchisement has been a contentious issue nationwide. While some states have made efforts to restore rights, others, like Florida, have imposed additional restrictions.
In Nebraska, the court’s ruling ensures felons who have completed their sentences can vote in the upcoming election.
