LINCOLN- Following the introduction of Senator Justin Wayne's legislative bill 20, which seeks to restore voting rights to felons after they've completed their sentences, advocates came together last Friday to in support of the change, saying that it's the first step in removing a "punitive" stigma and improving public safety. Currently, around 20,000 Nebraskans cannot vote because they are serving time in prison, are on parole for a felony crime, or have not waited the two-year period to regain their right to vote.

During a press conference sponsored by the Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, Sen. Wayne stated that "People who are engaged are less likely to reoffend." Demetrius Gatson, a representative from the ACLU, similarly defended the restoration of voting rights by saying, under the current system, "It's taxation without representation." LR4CA, introduced by Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, is similar to Sen. Wayne's bill, but would instead eliminate entirely the clause that requires convicted felons to lose their voting rights.

Nicole Porter, senior director of advocacy for The Sentencing Project, outlined the fact that over 4.6 million felony-convicted Americans are currently not allowed to vote. The Voting Rights Restoration Coalition is made up of 28 smaller organizations, including the ACLU, Black Votes Matter, the NAACP, and Civic Nebraska.

For the full article click HERE