Posted on 06/18/2005 6:47:22 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday that he soon will sign an executive order restoring voting rights to convicted felons who have served their sentence.
"This action we take is not going to be a pardon," Vilsack said.
The governor said only four other states prohibit felons from voting after completing their sentences.
"We’re here today to talk about justice," Vilsack aid. "When you’ve paid your debt to society, you need to be reconnected to society."
Vilsack said about 600 felons last year had voting rights restored, but he said it’s a painstaking and time-consuming process that distracts the state’s parole board and investigators.
Vilsack said he will sign the measure on July 4 with the symbolism of Independence Day.
Other states that don’t automatically restore voting rights include Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Virginia.
Vilsack emphasized that his move will not restore the right to carry a gun or ease any financial obligations to victims.
The governor made the announcement at a news conference surrounded by dozens of civil rights activists.
Under the executive order, convicted felons who complete their sentence would see their voting rights automatically restored. Currently, they can apply for the right to vote, but it must be approved by the Parole Board and governor in a very lengthy process.
As many as 500 to 600 people a month could be affected by the order, Vilsack said.
The ban on voting hits minority groups hard, the governor said.
"It has disproportionately affected minority individuals," the governor said. "It’s just not fair. Iowa has been a leader in civil rights."
The governor said a bipartisan panel of legislators wrote a letter to him asking him for an executive order after they determined that lawmakers don’t have the constitutional power to take the action.
Rep. Wayne Ford, D-Des Moines, one of those lawmakers, was pleased with the order.
"For many years, Iowa was the first in the country in terms of black incarceration" rates, Ford said.
No party listed. Democrat?
I'm a felon and a legal voter who votes almost exclusively republican. From my own experience I believe that people who clean up their act do so because we become more conservative. People who are still committing crimes aren't worried about voting.
I am more concerned about politicians attempting to get prison inmates to vote. A prison inmate will vote simply because he doesn't have anything better to do and he will vote for whoever promises to release him soonest. (democrats)
Personally I think felon voting laws are just fine as they are, the true goal of politicians is prison voting. Only Maine allows inmates to vote.
Yep. And an Iowa Traitor, at that. The same state that inflicted Tom "Dear Commandante" Harkin on the country. I used to live next door to Iowa, so I know what I'm talking about when I say don't let their "middle America" image fool you. Iowa is as leftist as any Traitor Party-dominant state, and Vilsack is just being true to form. He's typical leftist scum, but don't expect Iowegians to throw him out anytime soon....he just suits their tastes a bit too much.
I am from Iowa and Iowa is not the peaceful, pastorial place that it tries to portray itself as. Iowa in almost as liberal as Minnesota(Home of Former VP Mondale) or South Dakota(Home of Former Sen Dashole). Iowa gave us Former VP Wallace(A Socialist) under FDR and Pres Herbert Hoover(one of the most ineffective Presidents EVER). Vilsak Is a Clinton type Dem governer.
I really don't care about voting but, has he checked recidivism rates lately. Given these high rates, I'd be more worried about muggings or pickpockets in the voting lines than voter fraud if this is the way things will be.
After they've paid their time, felons should have the right to own guns officially restored too. (It's not like they can't get them once they get out of jail, anyway - so don't let them out of jail if you don't want them to own guns. )
Exactly ! The only ex cons who don't possess firearms are the ones who strive to respect the law.
Did he add "and maybe reaching out to them will inspire them to BEHAVE THEMSELVES"???
This turkey sounds like he believes that the only reason they are covicted felons is because of an accident of birth!
So, he's going to overrule state laws by executive order? I wonder how the legislature feels about that. Is there any chance of the legislature overturning him? This is a matter for the courts. Vilsack cannot take on this authority without violating the separation of powers. It would be like Bush saying "OK, we're drilling in ANWR and Social Security will have private accounts from now on."
Keeping the laws they way they are in most states means convicted felons, released or not, do not vote. I would like it to stay that way.
The only reason these laws are in affect, and why they should stay that way, is to try to make someone think of what they will be losing if they commit a crime. These laws are PART of the punnishment for felons. They never truely pay their debt to society. You are saying that a felon who commits murder and is released after 7 years should be given the right to bear arms and vote. How long do we let them out for before we decide that they can have these rights back? 10 years, one minute? How long? Felons did the crime, they have to do the time and that time includes loss of certain rights. They knew this before they committed the crimes and didn't care. Now they care? Too late.
In neighboring South Dakota, I expect that our former governor and US Representative convicted of felony manslaughter for running a stop sign at 70mph+ and killing a motorcyclist will not only get his law license back, but will run again for Congress.
With all due respect, pick any one of the many "Traitor Party-dominant" blue states. Iowa, being a red state, is not as leftist as that one.
Vilsack really pulled out all the stops on this one!
In 2003, Vilsack himself denied reinstatement to 94 convicted felons who applied for it. Under his new executive order, they and all the rest can vote.
Unfricking believable!!!! Is felon voting really a state right!? How can you be exempt from a national election, or not exempt, due to a state law?
Why not?
That however is where you are wrong. The article says that only 4 states deny the right to vote to felons. That's almost a factor of 12 the other way. In other words, huge. Even Texas, where I live returns voting rights.
Unless by constitutional provision, voting is ENTIRELY a state matter, and not a federal one. Anytime a voting issue is federalized for lack of a better word, it's via a constitutional amendment. I thought this was basic civics?
Voting is not ENTIRELY a state matter. I thought that was basic civics.
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