Nebraska Supreme Court upholds overseas voter law

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 16 Oct, 22:32 · Archive

Nebraska's Supreme Court has upheld a 2005 law allowing certain overseas citizens to vote in the state, rejecting a Republican-led challenge in a 6-1 decision on Friday. The Republican National Committee and two Lancaster County voters, Jack Riggins and Pam Dingman, sought to overturn the law, arguing it diluted lawful Republican votes and violated the state constitution.

The challenged law allows U.S. citizens who have never resided in Nebraska but have a parent registered to vote in one Nebraska county to register in that county. The RNC claimed the law violated Article VI, Section 1 of the Nebraska Constitution, which defines a qualified voter as a U.S. citizen who 'has resided within the state and the county and voting precinct for the terms provided by law.'

The justices ruled the challengers had failed to prove the statute unconstitutional on its face. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers cited an example of a voter born in South America to Saunders County missionaries who intended to return home. The court agreed that children acquire their parents' domicile at birth and can adopt their parents' residency status. The court stuck with an 1895 precedent that 'residence' and 'domicile' were synonymous. Registering or voting in multiple states or counties would be a felony.

How it is being reported

• Nebraska Supreme Court upholds validity of Fairness for Girls ballot measureThe Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the validity of a 2026 ballot measure seeking to cement sex-separate school sports requirements in the Nebraska Constitution.1011Now · 16 Oct, 22:44
• Nebraska Supreme Court upholds validity of Fairness for Girls ballot measureThe Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the validity of a 2026 ballot measure seeking to cement sex-separate school sports requirements in the Nebraska Constitution.WOWT · 16 Oct, 22:44
• Justices uphold law allowing certain overseas voters to cast ballots for Nebraska electionsA Republican-led challenge to overturn a state voting law allowing certain overseas voters to vote in Nebraska is over after a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling Friday.1011Now · 16 Oct, 21:52
• Justices uphold law allowing certain overseas voters to cast ballots for Nebraska electionsA Republican-led challenge to overturn a state voting law allowing certain overseas voters to vote in Nebraska is over after a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling Friday.WOWT · 16 Oct, 21:52

In this story: Nebraska Supreme Court · Republican National Committee · Bob Evnen · Mike Hilgers · Jack Riggins · Pam Dingman · Nebraska · Lancaster County

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