Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced this past Thursday that an agenda item to consider restoring voting rights to individuals with felony convictions who registered to vote under LB53 was taken off the agenda of yesterday’s Nebraska State of Nebraska Board of Pardons meeting. The request was made in light of the Nebraska Supreme Court’s acceptance of a case that challenges the constitutionality of Secretary Evnen’s instruction to cease voter registrations for those with felony convictions.
On July 17, 2024, Secretary Evnen instructed county election offices to stop registering voters with felony convictions. Secretary Evnen’s instructions followed an opinion from the Attorney General that concluded LB20, passed by the Nebraska Legislature this year, and the law that proceeded it, LB53, are unconstitutional. In the July 17 announcement, Secretary Evnen indicated his intention to bring before the Board of Pardons a motion to restore voting rights to individuals with felony convictions who registered to vote under LB53.
Unless the Nebraska Supreme Court rules otherwise, Secretary Evnen’s instructions remain in place. Individuals with felony convictions who registered to vote under LB53 will not be removed from the state’s voter registration system at this time. County election offices should not accept new voter registration applications from individuals with felony convictions, unless they have been pardoned.
“I am hopeful that the Nebraska Supreme Court will quickly issue a decision prior to the November general election,” Secretary Evnen said. “We will follow whatever direction the Court gives us regarding felon registrations.”
