'This is my right': ACLU says hundreds of felons were incorrectly told they can't vote
Walter Wolff, a convicted felon jumped through hoops to finally get his mail-in ballot.
He says his dilemma started when he received a letter for the Douglas County Election Commission, informing him that he was ineligible to vote because two years hadn't passed since he finished his sentence.
But Wolff told KETV Newswatch 7 that he completed his sentence back in March of 2017.
"I called them [the Douglas County Election Commission] and told them I've done everything I was supposed to do, I've fulfilled my sentence, so I'm eligible to vote," said Wolff. "They said 'Well we're going to send you some paperwork, you're going to have to get a pardon from the governor and pardon from the judge.'"
Wolff instead took his concerns to the Nebraska ACLU.
"This two year limitation period has caused a great deal of confusion," said Nebraska ACLU legal director Adam Sipple. "We want voters to know that there is still time to address this issue with their local elections officials."
Wolff's dilemma launched an ACLU investigation. Sipple said the organization's legal team reviewed 3,500 state voting records and uncovered about 400 other Nebraskans who've received the same letter as Wolff.
According to Sipple, some of the voter's charges were even dropped or reduced to misdemeanors.
"In some counties it appears that the problem may be much worse," said Sipple. "The error in some other counties is well over 6%."
Nebraska's Secretary of State sent KETV Newswatch 7 the following statement:
“The ACLU informed the Secretary of State Elections Division that some notices were potentially sent in error. Upon notification, the Elections Division is currently reviewing the findings will make all necessary corrections prior to the general election.”
-Cindi Allen, Assistant Secretary of State
The secretary of state has restored Wolff's voting rights, he said he is excited to vote in the November election.
"This is my right," said Wolff. "We've had many men die so that I can have this privilege and I owe it to those men."
Anyone who may have received the same notice as Wolff in error should reach out to their local election commission office, or contact the Nebraska Secretary of State.