Des Moines, Iowa — At the state capitol Wednesday morning, Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order to automatically restore voting rights to most paroled felons, an idea she first proposed in early 2019.
(As said, “This is a cause on which so many Iowan’s have works on for years. It boils down to our fundamental belief of redemption and second chances.”)
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 NAACP of Iowa and Nebraska, thanked the governor for keeping her promise by signing the order.
(As said, “This is extremely important. The right to vote is a fundamental act of citizenship.”)
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. The order technically restores citizenship rights and does NOT require repayment of victim restitution before a felon can vote.
