LINCOLN – In a gesture that many Americans consider a normal part of civic life, Jason Kotas of Omaha successfully registered to vote. While voter registration is a simple task for many, Kotas and approximately 7,000 other Nebraskans faced the possibility of being unable to register this election due to their felony backgrounds.

With less than a week left until Election Day, Nebraskans who have previous felony convictions—and have completed their sentences—must register by Friday, Nov. 1. This deadline comes after a critical decision on October 16 by the Nebraska Supreme Court, which dismissed claims made by Republican Secretary of State Robert Evnen that a new law passed in April violated the state constitution and mandated its immediate implementation.

Kotas, who completed his parole in 2022, felt relieved knowing he could cast his vote in November.

“I was really looking forward to this year because I finally had the chance to vote. Initially, I was so excited about it, but then it felt like that opportunity was just snatched away unexpectedly,” Kotas shared. “It really took me by surprise.”

Two individuals with felony records, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit against Evnen after he instructed election officials in July to stop residents with felony records from voting. Before the enactment of the new law, Nebraska had permitted individuals with felony convictions to vote two years after completing their sentences for the past twenty years.

Following the court’s decision, activists are working diligently to register voters in person as the November 1 deadline looms.

Final Push for Registration

While the courts deliberated, voting rights advocates were gearing up for immediate action following the ruling.

Civic Nebraska, an advocacy organization, sent out approximately 6,000 informational mailers before the court’s ruling. Since October 16, they have visited over 125 homes of newly eligible voters and sent around 2,000 text messages, as reported by Steve Smith, Civic Nebraska’s communications director.

“This isn’t a partisan initiative aimed at favoring one political party over another,” Smith emphasized. “It’s about restoring a fundamental American right that was removed by an executive decision. This is the current situation on the ground as we hustle to make it happen.”

“We’re doing everything we can given the time constraints,” Smith added.

While advocates are reaching out to many people statewide, a significant focus remains on the Omaha metro area where most newly eligible voters reside, Smith noted.

The Omaha area is also critical as it may provide decisive electoral votes to presidential candidates due to Nebraska’s unique electoral system. Two of the state’s five electoral votes go to the overall popular vote winner, while the remaining three are distributed among the victors of the congressional districts.

Despite typically being a Republican stronghold, the 2nd Congressional District has supported Democratic candidates twice in recent elections, creating the term “blue dot” due to victories by Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020.

Jasmine Harris, who leads public policy and advocacy efforts for RISE, a Nebraska nonprofit aiding those transitioning back into society after serving their sentences, highlighted the relief among Nebraskans with felony histories after experiencing considerable confusion and uncertainty.

“There was so much confusion and fear being spread around, but this court decision provides a sense of relief and allows people to focus on getting registered and prepared to vote,” Harris stated.

With RISE and Civic Nebraska leading grassroots efforts, Harris pointed out the hurdles still faced in the registration process, such as tight deadlines and the challenges of in-person registration.

Organizations like the Malcolm X Foundation in Omaha are offering transportation to help newly eligible voters reach their local election offices, but many still encounter difficulties, including balancing work commitments with office hours.

Nonetheless, Harris encourages those Nebraskans to make their voices heard at the polls.

“Many people often claim, ‘I don’t participate in elections because my vote holds no value, it doesn’t influence anything.’ I want to emphasize that every vote is significant,” stated Harris. “It truly matters. If it didn’t, there wouldn’t be ongoing efforts to restrict it and prevent individuals from voting.”

Kotas, currently a re-entry specialist with RISE, expresses his eagerness to cast his vote alongside his wife on Election Day. He mentions that, while he is personally excited about the opportunity to vote, he also views it as a positive move towards reintegrating people with felony backgrounds into society.

“How do we restore people’s dignity?” Kotas inquired. “Once individuals have served their sentences and are making efforts to transform their lives, we shouldn’t continue to impose limitations on them. They’ve done all that was required of them!”