House passes bill outlining felon voting rights guidelines

iowa-capitol

Des Moines, Ia- Republicans in the Iowa House have approved legislation to forbid paroled felons who owe victim restitution from voting if Iowans approve a constitutional amendment that automatically restores felon voting rights. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton, was the bill’s chief advocate.

“We’re talking about somebody who potentially killed someone,” he says, “not just some dismissive bill they can’t pay.”

The bill now goes to the governor, so attention shifts back to Senate Republicans who’ve balked at passing a plan to end Iowa’s status as the only state that bans felons from voting once they’re released from prison.