Can Felons Vote in Nebraska?
Yes, you can vote in Nebraska with a felony conviction once you have completed all terms of your sentence, including prison, probation, and parole. There is no longer a two-year waiting period after sentence completion — LB 20 (2024) eliminated that requirement, and the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the law in October 2024. Register online at NEReg2Vote or at your county election office.
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Overview
Nebraska restores voting rights to people with felony convictions once they have completed all terms of their sentence, including incarceration, probation, and parole. In 2024, the legislature passed LB 20, which eliminated the previous two-year post-sentence waiting period. The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld LB 20 in October 2024, ordering the Secretary of State to register eligible voters immediately upon sentence completion. People convicted of treason must obtain a pardon to have their voting rights restored.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can vote in Nebraska with a felony conviction once you have completed all terms of your sentence, including prison, probation, and parole. There is no longer a two-year waiting period after sentence completion — LB 20 (2024) eliminated that requirement, and the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the law in October 2024. Register online at NEReg2Vote or at your county election office.
Can vote
- ✓Completed all terms of felony sentence, including incarceration, probation, and parole (no waiting period since LB 20)
- ✓Convicted of a felony under Nebraska, federal, or another state's laws and have completed your full sentence
- ✓Received a pardon from the Nebraska Board of Pardons
- ✓Convicted of a misdemeanor (misdemeanor convictions do not affect voting rights)
- ✓In county jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention — not yet convicted)
Cannot vote
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a state or federal prison for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently on probation for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently on parole or supervised release for a felony conviction
- ✗Convicted of treason and have not received a pardon restoring voting rights
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm your eligibility
You can vote if you have completed all terms of your felony sentence, including incarceration, probation, and parole. There is no longer a two-year waiting period after sentence completion. If you were convicted of treason, you must first obtain a pardon. Contact the Nebraska Secretary of State at (402) 471-2554 if you are unsure of your status.
Register to vote
Register online at NEReg2Vote (accessible from sos.nebraska.gov). You will need your Nebraska driver's license or state ID number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can also register by mail using a voter registration form available at your county election office, or register in person at the county election commissioner's office.
Meet the registration deadline
Your voter registration must be received by the county election office by the second Friday before Election Day (11 days prior). If you miss this deadline, you can register in person at the county election office through the Friday before Election Day (6 days prior), or use Nebraska's early voting / Election Day registration at your county election office with valid ID.
Receive your voter registration confirmation
After registering, your county election commissioner will mail you a voter registration acknowledgment card confirming your registration, party affiliation, and polling location. Review this card to ensure all information is correct.
Vote
Vote in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day, or request an early voting (mail-in) ballot from your county election commissioner. You can request an early ballot online, by mail, or in person. Return your early ballot by mail (must be received by Election Day) or drop it off at your county election office.
Stay registered and keep your information current
Once registered, you remain registered unless you move, change your name, or want to change your party affiliation. If you move within Nebraska, update your registration with your new address. Contact your county election commissioner's office or visit sos.nebraska.gov for any changes.
Key Laws
| Law | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Constitution, Article VI, Section 2 | 1875 (amended) | Provides that no person convicted of treason or felony under state or federal law shall be qualified to vote unless restored to civil rights. This is the constitutional basis for felon disenfranchisement in Nebraska. |
| LB 20 — Elimination of Two-Year Waiting Period | 2024 | Passed by a bipartisan majority of Nebraska state senators and became law without Governor Jim Pillen's signature on April 17, 2024. LB 20 eliminated the previous two-year post-sentence waiting period, allowing people with felony convictions to register and vote immediately upon completing all terms of their sentence, including probation and parole. Estimated to restore voting rights to approximately 7,000 Nebraskans. |
| State ex rel. Spung v. Evnen — Nebraska Supreme Court | 2024 | On October 16, 2024, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the Secretary of State must comply with LB 20 and register eligible voters with completed felony sentences. The court rejected the Attorney General's opinion that LB 20 was unconstitutional, noting that fewer than five justices agreed to strike down the law. The decision cleared the way for thousands to vote in the November 2024 election. |
| Nebraska Revised Statutes § 29-112 | Amended 2024 | Provides that upon final discharge from a felony sentence (completion of incarceration, probation, and parole), a person's civil rights — including voting — are restored. This statute was effectively amended by LB 20 to remove the two-year waiting period. |
| Nebraska Revised Statutes § 32-313 | Amended 2024 | Defines voter registration disqualifications, including felony conviction. As amended by LB 20, it no longer requires a two-year waiting period after sentence completion before a person can register to vote. |
Edge Cases
Can I vote if I was convicted of treason in Nebraska?
No, not automatically. If you were convicted of treason under Nebraska or federal law, your voting rights are not restored upon sentence completion. You must apply for a pardon from the Nebraska Board of Pardons to have your voting rights restored. This is a different process from standard felony convictions.
Can I vote if I am on federal supervised release but living in Nebraska?
No. If you are still on federal supervised release (the federal equivalent of parole), you have not yet completed all terms of your sentence. You must wait until your supervised release is fully completed before you can register to vote in Nebraska.
Can I vote if I was convicted of a felony in another state but now live in Nebraska?
Yes, as long as you have completed all terms of your sentence, including any probation, parole, or supervised release imposed by the other state. Nebraska law treats out-of-state felony convictions the same as in-state convictions for voting eligibility purposes.
Do I need to pay outstanding fines or restitution before I can vote?
Nebraska's voting eligibility requirement focuses on completion of your sentence terms — incarceration, probation, and parole. If payment of fines or restitution is a condition of your probation or parole, those must be addressed as part of completing supervision. However, if your supervision has been formally completed, outstanding financial obligations that are not part of your supervision terms should not prevent you from voting.
What happened with the Secretary of State blocking voter registrations in 2024?
In July 2024, Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen directed county election officials to stop registering people with felony convictions under LB 20, following an opinion from Attorney General Mike Hilgers that LB 20 was unconstitutional. The Nebraska Supreme Court overruled this on October 16, 2024, ordering the Secretary of State to comply with LB 20 and register all eligible voters. If you were previously turned away, you should now be able to register.
Can I vote if my felony conviction was expunged or set aside?
Nebraska has a limited set-aside process under the Nebraska Claims for Innocence Act for wrongful convictions. If your conviction has been vacated or set aside, you are no longer considered convicted and can register to vote. For pardons, the Board of Pardons can restore your civil rights including voting.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I vote in Nebraska if I have a felony conviction?
- Yes, once you have completed all terms of your sentence, including incarceration, probation, and parole. Since LB 20 passed in 2024, there is no longer a two-year waiting period after sentence completion. You must re-register to vote — your registration is not automatically renewed.
- What changed about Nebraska's felon voting laws in 2024?
- In 2024, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 20, which eliminated the previous two-year waiting period that required people to wait two years after completing their entire felony sentence before voting. Under LB 20, voting rights are restored immediately upon completion of all sentence terms. The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld this law in October 2024 in State ex rel. Spung v. Evnen, ordering the Secretary of State to comply.
- How do I register to vote after completing my felony sentence in Nebraska?
- Register online at NEReg2Vote (accessible from sos.nebraska.gov) using your Nebraska driver's license or state ID number and the last four digits of your SSN. You can also register by mail using a form from your county election office, or register in person at the county election commissioner's office. Registration must be completed by the second Friday before Election Day.
- Do I need to pay fines or fees before I can register to vote?
- Nebraska does not impose a separate financial requirement for voting beyond completion of your sentence. If your probation or parole has been formally completed, you can register to vote. If payment of restitution was a condition of your supervision and it has been formally discharged, you should be eligible.
- Can I vote while on probation or parole in Nebraska?
- No. In Nebraska, you cannot vote while on probation or parole for a felony conviction. Your voting rights are restored only after you have completed all terms of your sentence, including any period of supervised release. This is different from some states that restore voting rights upon release from prison.
- What is the voter registration deadline in Nebraska?
- The regular voter registration deadline is the second Friday before Election Day (11 days prior). If you miss this deadline, you can register in person at the county election commissioner's office through the Friday before Election Day. Nebraska also allows Election Day registration at designated locations with proper identification.
- Can I vote by mail (early voting) in Nebraska with a felony record?
- Yes. Once you are registered to vote, you can request an early voting ballot from your county election commissioner. You can request the ballot online, by mail, in person, or by phone. Your completed ballot must be received by the county election office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- What if I was convicted of treason — can I ever vote again?
- If you were convicted of treason under Nebraska or federal law, your voting rights are not automatically restored upon sentence completion. You must apply for a pardon from the Nebraska Board of Pardons to restore your civil rights, including voting. The Board of Pardons consists of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.
- Will anyone notify me when I am eligible to vote again?
- Nebraska does not have a formal notification system that alerts you when your voting rights are restored. It is your responsibility to know when you have completed all terms of your sentence and to re-register to vote. Contact the Nebraska Secretary of State at (402) 471-2554 or your county election commissioner if you are unsure of your status.
- Can I run for public office in Nebraska with a felony conviction?
- Once your civil rights are restored (upon completion of your sentence under LB 20), you regain the right to vote, serve on a jury, and hold public office. However, specific offices may have additional eligibility requirements. If you were convicted of treason, a pardon is required first.
Take Action — Direct Links
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Felon Voting Rights
Official state page explaining voting eligibility for people with felony convictions, including the impact of LB 20 and how to register after completing your sentence.
- NEReg2Vote — Nebraska Online Voter Registration
Nebraska's official online voter registration portal. Available 24/7. Requires a Nebraska driver's license or state ID number and last four digits of your SSN.
- ACLU of Nebraska — Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated Nebraskans
Know-your-rights guide explaining who can vote, the impact of LB 20, and what to do if you are told you cannot register.
- Campaign Legal Center — Restore Your Vote (Nebraska)
Interactive tool that walks you through Nebraska's specific rules and helps determine if you are eligible to register to vote after a felony conviction.
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Registering to Vote
Official page with voter registration instructions, deadlines, and links to the online registration system, mail-in forms, and county election office directory.
- Brennan Center for Justice — Voting Rights Restoration in Nebraska
Research and analysis on Nebraska's evolving felon voting rights laws, including background on LB 20 and the legal challenges surrounding its implementation.
- Vote.gov — Voting After a Felony Conviction
Federal resource with state-by-state information on voting rights after a felony conviction, including links to Nebraska-specific registration tools.
Video Guides
Sources
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Felon Voting Rights
- ACLU of Nebraska — Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated Nebraskans
- Nebraska Legislature — LB 20 (2024)
- Nebraska Supreme Court — State ex rel. Spung v. Evnen (2024)
- NPR — Nebraska Supreme Court Clears the Way for People with Felony Convictions to Vote
- Brennan Center for Justice — Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in Nebraska
- The Sentencing Project — Nebraska Supreme Court Upholds Law Restoring Voting Rights
- Ballotpedia News — Nebraska LB 20 Passes Without Governor's Signature
- Nebraska Constitution, Article VI, Section 2
- NCSL — Felon Voting Rights by State