Nebraska Supreme Court Reviews Voting Rights Laws

The Nebraska Supreme Court is set to rule on the constitutionality of recent directives that have blocked voting rights restoration for felons, impacting around 7,000 Nebraskans ahead of the 2024 presidential election. This legal challenge follows a July directive from Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who ordered county officials to reject voter registrations for those with felony convictions after Attorney General Mike Hilgers declared the new voting rights law unconstitutional. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit asserting that Evnen's order overstepped his authority, arguing that only the Supreme Court can determine the constitutionality of state laws. This case could have significant implications for voting rights in Nebraska, particularly in the competitive Omaha-centered 2nd Congressional District. The Nebraska legislature had passed a law in April restoring voting rights to felons who completed their sentences, which the attorney general later deemed unconstitutional. The court's decision is expected before the October 25 voter registration deadline.