NE: Felon voting rights restoration proposal becomes law but faces possible legal challenge
LINCOLN — A legislative proposal to immediately restore voting rights to Nebraskans convicted of a felony once they’ve completed their sentence has become law but faces a likely legal challenge.
Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday declined to sign Legislative Bill 20 or its accompanying appropriation bill, from State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, but allowed it to become law. In a letter to the Legislature, Pillen said both Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Secretary of State Bob Evnen “identified significant potential constitutional infirmities regarding the bill.”
“Although there are potential constitutional issues with LB 20 and related provisions of existing law, I will allow LB 20 and LB 20A to become law with neither my signature nor my endorsement of LB 20’s constitutional validity,” Pillen wrote.
The Nebraska Constitution allows bills to become law without the governor’s signature five days after they are passed by the Legislature, as long as lawmakers are still in session.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/18/felon-voting-rights-restoration-proposal-becomes-law-but-faces-possible-legal-challenge/
