ACLU brings lawsuit after pause on restoration of voting rights to Nebraska felons [View all]
Nebraska voting rights activists and voters are suing state election officials for refusing to comply with a state law allowing people with felony convictions to register to vote after completing their sentence without delay.
The American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a lawsuit with the Nebraska Supreme Court after Secretary of State Bob Evnen ordered all county election officials not to allow those with felony convictions to register to vote in November’s presidential election—contrary to laws enacted by the legislature, and impacting some 7,000 eligible voters.
The suit is based on a new law passed in April, wallowingindividuals to register to vote immediately after completing their sentence for a felony conviction, instead of waiting for two years as required by the previous law.
Evnen’s decision was based on a July 17 opinion by State Attorney General Mike Hilgers, which argued that the law restoring voting rights to individuals completing felony convictions violates the state constitution’s separation of powers. The opinion states that only the Board of Pardons, not the legislature, has the authority to reinstate the voting rights of Nebraskans with felony convictions.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/11/nebraska-aclu-sues-halt-voter-registration-convicted-felons/74590208007/