justus15vote

March 31, 2017 – The Nebraska Legislature debated LB75 on general file today.  LB75 seeks to eliminate the 2-year waiting for returning citizens to exercise their right to vote after discharging their felony sentence.  If passed, LB75 would restore the right to vote upon discharge.

With very limited debate, LB75 advanced to the next round (select file) of voting.  The tally of votes cast were: 28 Yes, 8 No and 10 present but not voting.  It was over and done quickly.  LB75 must survive 2 more rounds of voting (25 votes needed per round to advance).   If it survives to the 3rd round of voting (final reading) it could face possible veto from Governor Pete Ricketts.  It will take 30 votes to override a veto from the governor.

LB75 had a very strong showing.  There are 18 votes i..e., the 8 no and 10 not voting, that can possible added to the 28 yes votes to make LB75 veto proof.  J15!  See how the Nebraska Senators voted on Friday: http://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=1753

March 9, 2017 – All priority bills were designated in the Nebraska Legislature.  Each of the 49 state senators get to designate one priority bill during the session.  A priority bill, as the name suggests, is given priority over other bills that aren’t a priority.  A priority bill can scheduled for floor debates faster than other none priority bills.  Newly elected State Senator Justin Wayne, District 13, took the bold step of designating LB 75 as his first priority as a senator.  LB 75 seeks to eliminate the 2-year waiting period that returning citizens must wait after parole or discharging their felony sentence to exercise their right to  vote.

LB 75 has been placed on general file or 1st round of floor debates.  It will have to survive  3 rounds of voting and needing 25 votes per round to advance.  LB 75 has very long way to go to become a new law, but it’s needed.

Check out this link for an update of today’s events surrounding LB 75.

http://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=20918

Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP) is America’s shame and a duplicitous practice that should be ended.  Children should never be treated like adults even when they commit severe crimes – it just commonsense.

http://journalstar.com/legislature/committee-advances-bill-to-allow-immediate-voting-rights-to-felons/article_159a8184-e27b-506f-bd4e-344dd65cccc7.html

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEV7qws7dYRxoAV9MPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw–?p=Chinh+Doan+News+Watch+7&fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbyhp&hspart=adk&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbyhp#id=47&vid=d8d999edd63253e6400b0f2bf406f50f&action=view

Former State Senator DiAnna Schimek sounds off on LB 75.  She is credited with introducing the bill 12 years ago that created the current that allows returning citizens the right to vote after 2-years of discharge or parole.  But read her statements at the link below.

http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/local-view-eliminate-wait-on-felon-voting-rights/article_35a2659e-358e-5d77-b406-c5843de58670.html

Legislative Bill (LB) 75 will have a hearing before the Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on March 1^st 2017 at 9:15 a.m. room #1507.  LB 75 seeks the elimination of the two-year waiting period to exercise the right to vote after discharging a felony sentence or completion of parole on that sentence.

If you can’t attend the hearing please convey your support for the passing of LB 75 via letters, emails or phone calls to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee members at:

www.change.org/p/nebraska-state-senators-justus15vote-count-my-vote

www.facebook.com/justus15vote-2092199801005181

www.twitter.com/justus15vote

www.youtube.com/channel/UCtZQFIQzZE4Y26ymbP1IAvQ

www.justus15vote.org

justus15vote@gmail.com

This is written to request your assistance to help disenfranchised Nebraska citizens.  Who are they?  They represent every demographic, black, white, young, old, veterans, etc… some are your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.

I am one of 17,000+ Nebraska citizens that are barred from voting for 2-years after the completion of my felony sentence.  My sentence has been completely served. I’m not on parole nor under any supervision in connection with my former sentence, my sentence is final – done.  Last year there were 7,000 Nebraskan citizens  prohibited from voting in connection with Nebraska law (2-year waiting period to vote after parole or discharging a felony sentence).  About 40% of the total number of disenfranchised Nebraska citizens are like me i.e., have completed their sentence.

There are numerous reasons why the current is untenable and stirs up archaic practices akin to Jim Crow, literacy tests and poll taxes.  I’ll cite two reasons, reentry and taxes.  If chances are important they need to be adequately facilitated.  Reentry issues are important because they reintegrated a person back into society – that should happen immediately not after 2-years.  After obtaining employment and housing, voting is the next most important civic exercise that puts all citizens on an equal footing.

I’m taxes at the same rate as every other citizen.  My former felony sentence doesn’t exempt from being taxed nor provide me with a rebate at the end the year.  I’m taxed and unrepresented (taxation without presentation) because I’m barred from voting.  I possess no participation in how my taxes are utilized.  This is contrary to principles that began this country.  If I’m paying taxes like every other citizen I should be voting like them too.

What can you do to assistance your fellow disenfranchised Nebraskans?  You can support LB 75 (the elimination of the 2-year waiting period to vote after completion of a felony sentence).   Please write, call, email or visit your senator requesting that they vote for LB 75.

Today (Feb 3rd) marks the 147th anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution being ratified by the Congress which guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens. The Justus15 Initiative makes this recognition due to its name – Justus15!