Iowa governor to restore felons’ voting rights

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday he will soon sign an order restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who have served their sentences.

Currently, felons can apply for the right to vote, but it must be approved by the state’s parole board and the governor in a lengthy process.

Vilsack, a Democrat, said the current system is too time-consuming and unfairly affects minorities. His executive order would automatically restore felons’ voting rights upon completion of their sentences.

“This action we take is not going to be a pardon,” Vilsack said at a news conference surrounded by dozens of civil rights activists. “When you’ve paid your debt to society, you need to be reconnected to society.”

A bipartisan panel of legislators asked the governor for an executive order after determining that lawmakers lacked the constitutional authority to lift the ban. He plans to sign the measure July 4, affecting as many as 500 to 600 felons a month.

Critics said Vilsack’s move would hurt efforts to curb crime.

“This is exactly the kind of mixed signal that waters down Iowa’s tough-on-crime reputation,” said Republican House Speaker Chris Rants. “We made great strides in punishing our most dangerous criminals. Now is not the time to reverse course.”

Ralph Rosenberg of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission emphasized the order wouldn’t erase felons’ records. “We’re not dismissing the crime,” he said.

Elizabeth Robinson, head of the Iowa Board of Parole, said the move puts Iowa in line with the majority of states that recognize when a felon’s debt has been paid.