Can a Felon Vote in Nebraska?

Nebraska was the 37th territory to have joined the United States of America. It’s capital population was 258,379 by the end of the year 2016.

In 2016, Nebraska had a prison population of 5,188 inmates. In this number, there were 4,734 male inmates and 454 female inmates. The inmate population make up 2% of the state’s capital population.

In a true democracy, the majority rule rather than the total concurrence is the basic principle. This does not mean that the minorities, such as the felons, are exempted from mutual respect. A real democracy defends and maintain the rights of all, especially the minorities.

Can Felons Vote in Nebraska?

A felon loses the right to vote from the beginning of his sentence until his release from prison. A felon under probation or awaiting parole is also ineligible to cast a vote.

A person convicted for treason will be permanently not allowed to vote. However, a person convicted for a misdemeanour is not prohibited to vote.

Even when the felons have committed heinous crimes against the state, it is still the government’s responsibility to preserve equally all of it’s citizen’s rights.

It is fundamental for a democratic government to seek social fairness and mutual respect for diversity. Hence, felons should maintain their right to vote after being isolated from the society.

How Felons Can Restore Voting Rights in Nebraska?

Felon’s right to vote will be automatically restored after two years from the period of release from their incarceration, probation and parole grants. Felons who have been convicted and have served prison sentence outside the state of Nebraska may also be allowed to register as a voter two years after their final discharge.

Felons charged with treason may vote once his civil rights and citizenship are restored by the state’s Board of Pardon. The same rule of law applies to felons convicted of treason outside the state of Nebraska.

Felons will need to re-register as a voter of Nebraska.

Sources

http://www.nebraska.gov/
http://www.corrections.nebraska.gov/pdf/datasheets/2016/Datasheet%202016%201st%20Qtr.pdf
http://www.felonvoting.procon.org/sourcefiles/nebraska-code-felon-voting-2012.pdf