Overview
- This week the Republican National Committee joined two Nebraska voters to file a complaint in Lancaster County District Court naming Secretary of State Bob Evnen and targeting a 2010 law that lets U.S. citizens who never lived in the state register to vote if a parent is a Nebraska voter.
- The statute at issue was written to implement the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act and explicitly allows a person who has never resided in the United States but has a parent registered in Nebraska to vote in one county.
- The Secretary of State’s office said it forwarded the suit to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and declined further comment, leaving the state’s legal response and court timing uncertain.
- Republicans say the law conflicts with the state constitution’s residency requirement and needs correction, while Democrats and voting-rights groups warn the lawsuit could strip voting access from children of military and overseas families.
- The plaintiffs cite a recent North Carolina court ruling against similar 'never resident' voting rules, and the case could influence challenges in other states though it is unclear how many voters would be affected if the law is changed.