Nebraska Supreme Court set to weigh in on felon voting

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Nebraska Supreme Court will issue a ruling Wednesday that could impact the November election.

The court will decide whether felons who recently completed their sentences can register to vote.

In 2005, Nebraska lawmakers voted to restore felons’ voting rights two years after they served their sentence.

This year, the Legislature passed a law removing the two-year waiting period.

The Voting Rights Restoration Coalition estimates that at least 7,000 Nebraskans became eligible to vote under the new law.

But in July, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued an opinion saying that both laws were unconstitutional.

He said only the Board of Pardons — which is made up of the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state — have authority to restore felon’s voting rights.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen then directed county election offices to stop letting felons register to vote, citing the AG’s opinion. He has not removed people with felony convictions from the voter rolls.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska filed a lawsuit accusing Evnen of overstepping his bounds by nullifying a state law.

The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to order him to allow felons to register again.

It’s not clear whether the court will rule only on whether Evnen exceeded his authority or also on the broader constitutional question.

Friday is the deadline to register to vote.