On Oct. 16 in Omaha, Civic Nebraska will honor six Nebraskans with Strengthening Democracy Awards for their efforts to build a more powerful democracy in the Cornhusker State. Before then, we’re sharing a bit more about each winner to share what makes them so special.

Civic Nebraska honors Jason Witmer with the 2025 Jan Gradwohl Defender of Democracy Award for his tireless advocacy on civil rights, criminal law reform, and voting rights restoration, as well as for his ability to utilize storytelling, art, and collaboration in building a stronger democracy for all.

Jason’s advocacy is both deeply personal and profoundly public. For years, he has worked to expand the rights of Nebraskans who are incarcerated or reentering society, ensuring that their voices are not lost in the civic conversation. His leadership has been especially evident in the fight for voting rights restoration.

In 2023, Jason had a leading role in policy efforts that culminated in the passage of LB20. This law ended Nebraska’s two-year waiting period for citizens to regain the right to vote after completing felony sentences. When state officials later refused to honor the law, Jason stepped forward again, helping to clarify the legal battle waged by the ACLU of Nebraska and Civic Nebraska. That lawsuit eventually secured a decisive victory just weeks before Election Day, a triumph that allowed thousands to vote.

For Jason, the issue is personal: in 2025, he proudly cast his first ballot in his life. His vote represented not just an individual milestone but also the collective power of years of advocacy, coalition-building, and unshakable commitment to democracy.

Jason’s leadership style is unique and effective. Whether meeting with state senators at the Legislature, engaging with neighbors at community gatherings, or utilizing photography and storytelling to shed light on systemic inequities, Jason creates meaningful connections. He adapts to the group in front of him with passion, kindness, vulnerability, and creativity. His nominators note that he has a rare gift for building trust across divides, bringing people together to envision and enact meaningful change.

Beyond voting rights, Jason has been actively engaged in criminal justice reform and other civil rights issues, ensuring that Nebraska moves toward systems that are fairer and more humane. His advocacy weaves together grassroots organizing, policy work, and creative expression – an approach that reflects both his versatility and his conviction that democracy is strongest when all of its people are engaged.

Jason’s journey from advocate to voter, from organizer to recognized leader, embodies the essence of the Jan Gradwohl Defender of Democracy Award. He defends democracy not just in theory, but in practice – through law, through art, and through his daily work to empower others.

Meet Jason and his fellow honorees at Strengthening Democracy Awards on Oct. 16. RSVP today!