Sept. 6 (UPI) — Thousands of Nebraskans with felony convictions on their records are waiting for the state supreme court to make a decision on whether or not their voting rights will be restored ahead of the November election.
The state legislature in April passed LB 20, a bill that repealed Nebraska’s long standing two-year waiting period for the restoration of voting rights. The law would automatically restore the voting rights of more than 7,000 people and make the voting rights of convicted felons crystal clear for years to come.
However, on July 17, two days before the law was slated to take effect, Attorney General Michael Hilgers issued an opinion stating the authority to restore voting rights belongs to himself, Secretary of State Robert Evnen and Gov. Jim Pillen. The restoration of voting rights is also considered a pardon, falling under the authority of the Board of Pardons.
“Any person sentenced to be punished for any felony…shall be deemed incompetent to be an elector…unless said convict shall receive from the governor of this state a general pardon,” Hilgers wrote in his opinion.