Foreign Minister Bob Evnen announced today that an agenda item will be the restoration of voting rights for
Persons with a criminal conviction who have registered to vote under LB53 will be excluded from the agenda for the
August 20th meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Pardons and Parole. Secretary Evnen presented the motion in light of the
The Nebraska Supreme Court has accepted a case challenging the constitutionality of Minister Evnen’s
Directing a halt to voter registration for individuals with criminal convictions.

On July 17, 2024, Secretary Evnen directed county election offices to stop registering voters with felony convictions
convictions. Secretary Evnen’s instructions followed an opinion from the Attorney General deeming LB20, passed by the Nebraska Legislature this year, and the law that preceded it, LB53, unconstitutional. In the July 17 announcement, Secretary Evnen announced his intention to submit a petition to the Board of Pardons and Parole to restore voting rights to individuals with criminal convictions who registered to vote under LB53.

Unless the Nebraska Supreme Court rules otherwise, Secretary Evnen’s orders will remain in effect. Individuals with criminal 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 criminal convictions unless they have been pardoned.

“I am confident that the Nebraska Supreme Court will issue a decision before the general election in November,” said Secretary Evnen. “We will follow any instructions the Court gives regarding felony registration.”