LINCOLN–(KFOR Oct. 16)–The Nebraska Supreme Court on Wednesday morning issued a ruling that people who have completed felony sentences may register to vote.

This comes as voter registration deadlines are approaching, with the window to register online closing on Friday and in person registration October 25. That will give Nebraskans affected by this decision possibly only a few days to re-register to vote.

The court said in its decision that Attorney General Mike Hilgers was wrong to stop allowing convicted felons to register to vote.

The justices heard oral augments in August on the issue; but Hilgers argued that it’s unconstitutional for lawmakers to return voting rights to felons who have completed their sentence — saying it should be the Board of Pardons who decides. The Pardons Board consists of Hilgers, Gov. Jim Pillen, and Secretary of State Bob Evnen.

There are around 7,000 Nebraska voters who would be newly eligible to cast a ballot with the restoration of their voting rights. That’s on top of the 60,000 Nebraskans who got their right to vote back in 2005, when lawmakers ended the lifetime ban on felons voting.

In a statement following the state high court’s ruling, Civic Nebraska said, “In Nebraska, the people rule. Our state Supreme Court’s decision to instruct the secretary of state to register Nebraskans with past felony convictions is a clear victory for Nebraskans and democracy. This decision corrects a grave injustice and, from this moment on, ensures that every eligible voter in our state is afforded the constitutional right to participate in the democratic process.”