Iowa quietly restores voting rights for thousands of people who have felony convictions

On Wednesday, big changes emerged in Iowa ahead of the 2020 General Election for President of the United States. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds held a signing ceremony whereas she reportedly signed an exec order that restored voting rights to an estimated 40,000 people in the state. The order restored rights to those who may have previously lost them due to felony convictions (sans those with felony homicide convictions.).

The latter of the two will still have to apply to have their rights restored.

“It boils down to our fundamental belief in redemption and second chances,” Reynolds said. “When someone serves their sentence … they should have their right to vote restored automatically, plain and simple.”