People convicted of felonies lose numerous privileges other people have including the right to serve as a juror, possess firearms, drive, vote and more. One right currently changing for felons is when they can vote after serving their sentences. 

Nebraska’s supreme court upheld a law in early October that will make it easier for felons to register to vote after completing their sentences. Previously, felons had to wait for two years after completing their sentences to be eligible to vote again or permanently lost their right to vote.  

Joe Blankenau, a Wayne State College political science professor, said there are no guidelines for the felons to vote. Once they get registered, they can vote like any other citizen.  

Many top Nebraska officials did not support the change, but the Nebraska Supreme Court went against those opinions because according to the constitution, felons have a right to vote like all other citizens that pay taxes.  

Citizens with a felony conviction have to wait until they are off probation or parole before being eligible to vote again. If a felon decides to try voting by lying about a conviction, they could either pay a large fine or go back to prison.  

This ruling came about a week before Nebraska’s voter registration deadline for this year’s general election.