Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) on Friday vetoed a bipartisan measure that would have granted former felons the right to vote after they had completed their sentences. Supporters of the measure said it would help those who had served their time become members of society once again. In a letter to the Legislature, though, Ricketts said the measure would have circumvented the state constitution. “While the legislature may restore certain privileges, such as driving privileges, to convicted felons, the legislature may not circumvent the Nebraska Constitution to automatically restore a voting right in state law,” Ricketts wrote to legislators, adding that the bill “is attempting to create the equivalent of a legislative pardon.”
Current state law gives former felons their voting rights back after two years.
Supporters of the bill are considering whether to try to override Ricketts’ veto, though it’s not clear they have the votes. Thirty of the 49 members of Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature would have to vote to override the veto; the bill received 27 votes when it passed, though seven members were not present for the vote.
Full Article: Nebraska gov rejects restoring felon voting rights | TheHill.