Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an executive order to automatically restore voting rights to most paroled felons, an idea she first proposed in early 2019.
OC…..”second chances” :10
The order will restore voting rights to about 40-thousand people statewide, though it will not apply to felons convicted of murder, manslaughter or serious sex crimes.
Betty Andrews, who heads the N-double-A-C-P of Iowa and Nebraska, thanked the governor for keeping her promise by signing the order.
OC…….. “of citizenship” :05
The governor asked fellow Republicans in the legislature to start the process of amending Iowa’s constitution, but pledged this spring to issue the order after the legislative effort stalled:
OC………amendment passed. :22
The order technically restores citizenship rights and does not require repayment of victim restitution before a felon can vote.
Iowa was the last state in the union to enact a measure to restore felon voting rights.
