Nebraska’s Supreme Court rules that Secretary of State Bob Evnen had no authority to strip voting rights from people with felony convictions, potentially adding hundreds of new voters to the rolls and impacting the upcoming election. The ruling overturns Evnen’s order to reject voter registrations from those with felony convictions, citing a state attorney general opinion.
The decision, just days before the November 5 election, could have significant implications in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where the presidency and Congress makeup could be at stake. The district has awarded its single electoral vote to Democratic presidential candidates in recent election cycles.
The court criticized Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers for declaring the law unconstitutional and ordered election officials to enforce the law restoring voting rights to those who complete their felony sentences. The ruling comes amid competitive races for a U.S. Senate seat and the 2nd District’s U.S. House seat.
Advocacy groups, including the ACLU, celebrated the ruling, noting that felony disenfranchisement laws disproportionately affect Black people. The decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters and ensures that individuals like Gregory Spung, with felony records, have the right to vote.
The national spotlight has been on the restoration of voting rights for people with felony convictions, with notable cases in Florida and Tennessee. Despite a trend towards restoration, felony disenfranchisement laws still prevent millions of people from voting across the country.
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