LINCOLN, Neb. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska is promising action in response to Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen directing county election officials to stop allowing Nebraskans to register to vote if they have a previous felony conviction.
Evnen’s directive threatens to deny a voice to thousands of Nebraskans in this November’s election.
For years, Nebraskans with past felony convictions have been legally able to vote so long as two years have passed since they completed all terms of the felony sentence. Evnen’s action comes just two days out from the effective date of a law that removes the two-year waiting period, impacting an estimated 7,000 Nebraskans this year. Evnen has cited a new opinion from Attorney General Mike Hilgers that argues only the Board of Pardons can restore voting rights to Nebraskans with past felony convictions, a board that includes just Hilgers, Evnen and Gov. Jim Pillen.
The ACLU of Nebraska helped advocate for passage of the voter restoration law as a member of Nebraska’s Voting Rights Restoration Coalition.
Jane Seu, legal and policy counsel at the ACLU of Nebraska, made this statement:
“It really is this simple: we refuse to accept thousands of Nebraskans having their voting rights stripped away,” Seu said. “We are confident in the constitutionality of these laws, and we are exploring every option to ensure that Nebraskans who have done their time can vote.”
Steve Smith of Civic Nebraska, spokesman for the Nebraska Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, made this statement:
“We cannot allow this decision to stand unchallenged. We stand with voters who have served their time and deserve to participate fully in our democracy.”
Any Nebraskans who believe they are eligible to vote but encountering challenges registering are encouraged to email gethelp@aclunebraska.org, call the ACLU of Nebraska's legal intake partner Legal Aid of Nebraska’s statewide Accessline at 1-877-250-2016 Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 – 3 p.m., or call Civic Nebraska's voter protection hotline at 402-890-5291.
