Post by Logan on Jul 6, 2016 4:02:44 GMT -6
Lawmakers and civil rights advocates are pledging to rewrite state law and amend the Iowa Constitution after the state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lifetime voting ban for convicted felons.
The promises come in response to a 4-3 decision from the state's highest court finding that all felonies are "infamous crimes" resulting in permanent disenfranchisement under the state constitution. The decision upholds what critics say is one of the harshest felon voting laws in the nation, and ensures the state will not see a significant shift in voter eligibility ahead of the 2016 election.
Iowa's governor and top elections officer, meanwhile, cheered the court's decision.
"This ruling goes in line with 150 years of precedence and has been reaffirmed by the people of Iowa and their elected representatives on multiple occasions," Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement. Pate's office oversees elections in the state, and he was named as the defendant in the case.
Read more: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/30/iowa-supreme-court-upholds-ban-felons-voting-iowa/86525128/
The promises come in response to a 4-3 decision from the state's highest court finding that all felonies are "infamous crimes" resulting in permanent disenfranchisement under the state constitution. The decision upholds what critics say is one of the harshest felon voting laws in the nation, and ensures the state will not see a significant shift in voter eligibility ahead of the 2016 election.
Iowa's governor and top elections officer, meanwhile, cheered the court's decision.
"This ruling goes in line with 150 years of precedence and has been reaffirmed by the people of Iowa and their elected representatives on multiple occasions," Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement. Pate's office oversees elections in the state, and he was named as the defendant in the case.
Read more: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/30/iowa-supreme-court-upholds-ban-felons-voting-iowa/86525128/