ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Senate voted 35-30 to restore voting rights to convicted felons as soon as they get out of prison instead of continuing to require them to complete their parole. The bill now goes to Governor Tim Walz, whose signature is needed to put the law into effect. The Senate passage was less than a week after the state Supreme Court deferred on the issue and left it to the Legislature to change the law. Democrats behind the measure say it will help reintegrate former inmates. who are disproportionately people of color, back into society.
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Bobby Joe Champion, D-Minneapolis, Senate president: “When individuals are connected to their communities and participating in pro-social activities, recidivism goes down, and the decision to do something to reoffend goes down as well.”
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Senator Warren Limmer, R- Maple Grove: “There are some offenders that have committed heinous crimes against innocent citizens. I don’t think the Senate understands that. This bill treats it as a one-size-fits all — all criminals get the same treatment.”