Nebraska’s Supreme Court ordered the secretary of state on Wednesday to allow people with felony convictions to vote after finishing their sentences, resolving confusion about who can participate in this year’s election.

The court rejected an argument by the state attorney general that lawmakers had overstepped in extending voting rights to those with convictions. The ruling came with early balloting in the state already underway and voter registration deadlines approaching quickly, and was expected to affect thousands of potential voters.

The makeup of the state’s electorate can carry special importance in presidential races because of the way Nebraska splits its Electoral College votes by congressional district, rather than using the winner-take-all approach of most states. Nebraska also has a competitive U.S. Senate race this year, as well as a tightly contested U.S. House race in the Omaha area.

Nebraska, which usually votes Republican in statewide races, was part of a national trend in loosening voting rules for people with criminal records.

— The Associated Press