Felons' Voting Rights Restored in NE

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, So yesterday, just before the end of our show,
we got the news from the Nebraska Supreme Court. They
handed down their decision on the dispute over whether or
not felons should be allowed to vote, and they said yes.
They cited with basically with the legislature which had granted

(00:21):
that that right and then there was a dispute over it,
triggered by the state attorney general. So the Supreme Court
yesterday says yes, felons are eligible to vote. And we're
joined for a few minutes this morning by Douglas County
Election Commissioner Brian Cruz.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Brian, good morning, Good morning Gary. How were you guys.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Well, it's great to have you back, and I'm wondering
what you saw anything, if anything, in the wake of
that decision yesterday.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Sure, so we had about a half a dozen folks
that were affected came in and vote yesterday. The gentleman,
one of the gentlemen who brought the lawsuit came in
and he registered to vote himself. So, you know, we've
had lines already at the election commission. I expect those

(01:10):
lines to continue and I definitely expect to service more
of these individuals who are affected by this lawsuit in
the coming days and through next week.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, we have a lot I understand in Douglas County.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, you know, I've seen different numbers. I suspect we
have at least several thousand here in Douglas County, you know,
So we definitely be impacted by that.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
Yeah, And I imagine this decision makes your job a
little easier than if they had decided the other way, right,
because you would have you would have been responsible, as
all of the county commissioners would have to making sure
that that fellas who are registered to vote and were
allowed to are no longer allowed to write.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
It's a little less work on the back end, you know.
I think that's a fair assessment.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, if we go in one hundred and twentieth and
Center Douglas County Election commission Office to vote this week,
what are you mentioned? The lines are long? How long
are they? How long does it take do you think?

Speaker 2 (02:17):
You know, we've been experienced about twenty to thirty minutes.
If you can come mid morning or mid afternoon, lines
tend to be a little less ten to fifteen minutes.
But of course, you know, Gary, those lines are only
going to continue to get longer. Yeah, I would say this.
We're normally open eight thirty to five. Next week, we

(02:39):
will be open until six pm on Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday as a convenience to voters.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Great refresh our memory, and so we can nail this
down for sure. Brian. On the dates for eligible to register,
that's right.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
So this Friday at five pm is essentially the last
day to register to vote if you don't come in person.
So the only exception to that is it's before midnight online. Otherwise,
if you fill out a pay per form and put
it in our drop box or you go to a
library to register, it's five o'clock this Friday. The following Friday,

(03:22):
the twenty fifth, at six pm is the very last
day to register to vote, and you have to come
in person starting after this Friday, after.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Tomorrow, after tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
That's corre okay.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
So now when you say fifteen to twenty minute lines, Brian,
are you talking about that's the weight in line or
that's the time it takes from the time you get
there until you walk out lod.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
No, that's until you get up to our calendar, okay,
and then you know we've been seeing most voters honestly,
or taking ten plus minutes just because it's a two
page ballot is and if you live in right, you
live in Omaha. Second page front and back is fifteen
issues you got to study and mark, So you should

(04:06):
probably plan thirty to forty five minutes.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Honestly, I strongly suggest I'm going to do this again
today because others may not have heard it, because Brian's right,
there's a lot on there. If you go to vote
Douglas County dot com and click on find your voter
in for voting information, you can get a ballot for
your specific precinct and study that thing before you go,

(04:31):
and that'll cut down on the time it takes. That's
a great service.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yep. Yeah, absolutely, we really really encourage voters to do that,
just for the reason, you know, the reason you said.
The name of the game this time around is get
out and vote and be an informed voter.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
Indeed, Brian, always great to have you on. I appreciate
the info.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Okay, have a great day, guys.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
All there he goes Brian Cruz, Douglas County Election Commissioner.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
Here