Dear friends,
We have two important updates about voting rights in Nebraska, including a familiar concern that may return to the statehouse during a special session.
Justice delayed on LB20
›› On July 17, Secretary of State Bob Evnen directed election officials to stop registering Nebraska voters with past felony convictions, regardless of how long it’s been since they completed their sentences. This directive follows an opinion from the Attorney General that alleges only the Board of Pardons has the authority to restore voting rights.
›› Secretary Evnen said he intends to ask the Board of Pardons to accommodate affected Nebraska voters who registered after waiting out our state’s additional two-year waiting period. But his directive excludes Nebraskans who are now ending their waiting period, as well as those affected by the passage of LB20 earlier this year.
›› In April, Nebraska lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to eliminate the two-year waiting period, allowing people to vote as soon as they complete the terms of their sentence. LB20 was passed into law, but Evnen has made it clear that he will not comply with the new law.
›› This means significant uncertainty for many Nebraskans who already face a range of barriers to political involvement. Even if state officials change their stance and ultimately follow the law, the chilling effect on affected voters could be substantial.
›› Civic Nebraska and its partners are exploring every option to address the ramifications of the secretary of state’s directive. In the meantime, if you believe you are eligible to vote but have questions or are facing challenges in registering, please contact us (402-890-5291) or our friends at ACLU of Nebraska. We can help.
›› If you believe you are directly affected by the secretary of state’s decision, we encourage you to sign up for our email updates if you haven’t yet. Also, please let us know your interest in registering to vote (402-890-5291) – this will allow us to follow up with you as soon as this situation is resolved. Also, here are answers to frequently asked questions.
We’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned.
Special session and winner-take-all
In April, our State Capitol was in a frenzy thanks to outside interests’ last-minute attempt to push through a winner-take-all Electoral College system in Nebraska. The effort failed, but since then the governor has maintained that if there is enough support to bring up winner-take-all during this month’s special session on taxes, then he would like to see it return for debate and a vote.
We opposed the measure then, emphasizing that our one-house Legislature requires lawmaking to be thoughtful and deliberate, which was impossible given the nature of such an 11th-hour attempt. We also believe our split electoral vote system respects and amplifies the diverse voices of Nebraskans. Our current system fosters engagement, fairness, and political balance, which are crucial for a healthy democracy.
Civic Nebraska promised to launch a referendum initiative if the Legislature succumbed to the pressure to switch last spring. We renew that pledge today. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the session and we will act if necessary, and we encourage you to do the same. In addition to sharing our email updates, please consider a donation to support our efforts, both to protect our state’s electoral system and to restore the vote for justice-impacted Nebraskans.
We are in extraordinary times, and we are thankful that we have such extraordinary supporters. Thank you for your continued commitment to democracy, and your support for the voices of every Nebraskan.
Best,
