Nebraska election officials must register people with felony convictions to vote, the state’s highest court has ruled.
In a decision issued on Oct. 16, the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the state to reverse course and follow laws allowing people who have completed all terms of their felony sentences to vote, provided they also meet other eligibility criteria.
The dispute revolves around two voting laws. The first, a 2005 statute known as LB 53, allows former felons to vote in elections two years after completing their sentences. A more recent law, LB 20, eliminates that waiting period.
In July, Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen instructed county election officials not to register voters under LB 20. He also paused new voter registrations under LB 53 but didn’t go as far as to remove those already registered under the 2005 law from voter rolls….