Nebraska Supreme Court Issues Ruling That Could Change Entire Election
The Nebraska Supreme Court has delivered a last-minute ruling that could impact one of the most important Senate races this November and one crucial Electoral College vote.
On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Nebraskans with past felony convictions can vote in the November elections and cannot be barred by county elections officials. Individuals with felony convictions in that state can register online through Friday or in person by October 25.
This comes as the Cornhusker State has garnered national attention over its exciting Senate matchup between independent Dan Osborn and Republican Deb Fischer, who are currently neck and neck in the polls.
Further, Nebraska’s particular split-electoral-vote system, which Republicans tried to challenge earlier this year, means that the blue dot of Omaha could be Kamala Harris’s key to winning in November.
Nearly 7,000 voters could now be eligible to vote in less than three weeks. Many of Nebraska’s former felons live in or near Omaha. The overlapping 2nd congressional district race between Republican Don Bacon and Democrat Tony Vargas is also too close to call.
For the past 20 years, Nebraskans with past felony convictions were forced to wait two years before registering to vote, until legislation passed this April ending the waiting period. Voters were held in limbo after the Nebraska attorney general challenged the decision. Wednesday’s ruling sets the record straight. And these new voters may just determine the future of the White House, Congress, and the Senate—if they can register to vote in time.
