Written by Schmeeka Simpson - MXMF Policy Fellow.
Nebraska is actively & aggressively trying to single handedly swindle the right of almost 100,000 PEOPLE to vote in this important election year. Many of these PEOPLE have already been system-impacted, and according to the 13th amendment of the US Constitution, are labeled a felon. This felon status takes away your right to: vote, work and live in countless places, hold many types of jobs, attend college, receive state assistance, run for office, travel to numerous places overseas, serve on jury duty, and more. Before 2005, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME AND PAID THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY, these rights were to be forever denied to PEOPLE unless given a pardon by the Pardon’s Board. LB53 was then passed by the Representatives voted in by the PEOPLE to the Legislature, which gave the right to vote back if all debts were paid, and sentences were completed alongside a 2-year waiting period, restoring the right of to vote of an estimated 59,000 PEOPLE.
LB20 was passed into law this year 2024, through a Bi-partisan effort in the Nebraska Unicameral, elected by the PEOPLE, with 38-6 votes in favor. LB20 would have taken away the 2-yr waiting period for system-impacted PEOPLE to vote. Gov. Pillen refused to sign LB20, so it became law without his signature since he didn’t veto it. Two days before LB20 was to go into effect, Attorney General Mike Hilgers wrote an opinion, stating that IN HIS OPINION, LB20 was unconstitutional and so then is LB53. Based off the Attorney General’s opinion, Sec. of State Robert Evnen has suspended all felons’ rights to vote, and register to vote with possible criminal penalties, (a class four felony) until the Nebraska Supreme Court rules whether or not the representatives who were elected BY THE PEOPLE, can decide whether or not THE PEOPLE can vote.
Nebraska is jeopardizing the rights of citizens who have stayed out of trouble and dutifully participated in the voting process FOR 19 YEARS, who primarily live in the Blue Dot, that holds a key electoral vote, that could help make or break a Presidential victory for either party.
Recall the national chatter around making Nebraska a winner-take-all state, thereby eliminating the 2nd electoral vote that’s been assigned to Omaha and the entire 2nd Congressional District? Then they were chattering about the Blue-Dot. This Blue-Dot electoral vote leans heavily to democratic candidates, because it’s comprised mainly of PEOPLE of color, system-impacted citizens, white liberals, independents and poor PEOPLE.
The words PEOPLE are emphasized because this is the root cause of the matter. If you look around the country, you will see that Nebraska is following the nationwide trend of challenging legislation, universities, programs and positions that empower groups that are not part of the status-quo, the status-quo being white land-owning males. Currently, Nebraska is challenging the voting laws based on the Nebraska State Constitution, written in 1875 when only white landowning males were considered people (hence why they are the status quo and considered the barometer of judgment.) The status quo can affect the lives of almost 100,000 PEOPLE here in Nebraska and potentially have a global ripple effect of their actions simply based on opinions.
We at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, know that we have work to do in order to empower All People and ensure their voices are heard. (***This is part one of a 3-part series, developed by the Policy & Research Fellow, Schmeeka Simpson).
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