Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is poised to sign a pair of bills that recently passed the state Senate which restore the voting rights of convicted felons immediately upon release and grant the ability for illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.
First up is legislation known as the Restore the Vote bill, having passed the Senate last week and the House’s version going through earlier this month.
Both chambers are controlled by Democrats. CNN reports that Walz is “expected to sign the legislation” as soon as this week.
Minnesota will join 22 other states in restoring the voting rights of convicted felons the moment they leave prison – regardless of what happens during their parole. Three others allow criminals to vote while incarcerated.
CNN informs that Republican senators attempted to introduce amendments “preventing incarcerated people who had been convicted of more violent crimes, including child rape, from having their voting rights restored under the bill.”