The debate over Maplewood has reached the State Capitol, creating policy questions for senate passes bills to restore felon voting rights, give licenses to illegal immigrants residents.
Two more bills are on their way to the governor’s desk.
Current state law requires felons to complete their entire sentence before regaining the right to vote, including probation or parole.
HF28 will allow felons to vote whenever they are not incarcerated.
“For more than a decade, I have had the honor to work with Minnesotans of all walks of life from across our state to restore this right, and now together our hard work has gotten us over the finish line.
We, as a great state, should celebrate this moment because those 55,000 people who will have their rights restored are our friends, neighbors, and family members,” said Sen.
Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, lead author of the bill.
Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to prevent certain violent criminals and those convicted of felony voter fraud from regaining the right to vote until after serving their full sentence.
As the measure advances, residents of Maplewood can follow amendments and contact Peter Fischer regarding the final language.
Article Source: Alpha News: “Senate passes bills to restore felon voting rights, give licenses to illegal immigrants ”
