Name: Gov. Reynolds to sign executive order on felon voting rights
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Gov. Reynolds to sign executive order on felon voting rights

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AdvertisementAdvocates for felon voting rights hope for order with no strings attachedHide TranscriptShow TranscriptIT HAS BEEN A MAJOR DEMAND OF THE DES MOINES BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. AND ON TUESDAY, JUST BEFORE MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SAYS SHE PLANS TO FULFILL IT. AN EXECUTIVE ORDER RESTORING CONVICTED FELONS’ RIGHT TO VOTE. IOWA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT AUTOMATICALLY DENIES THEM THAT RIGHT. &gt;&gt; GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON, THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE PART OF SOCIETY. THEY DON’T WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE RESTRICTED OR LEFT OUT. CHRIS THAT’S WHY YOU’VE SEEN : ROBERT PATE ON KCCI OVER THE YEARS, ADVOCATING FOR VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION. A CONVICTED FELON HIMSELF, HE FOUNDED THE GROUP INMATE MOVEMENT AGAINST GANG EVOLUTION, OR IMAGE, TO HELP OTHER OFFENDERS GET BACK ON TRACK. THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE’S STILL DRAWING UP THE ORDER, BUT PATE WORRIES THERE COULD BE STRINGS ATTACHED. NAMELY, REQUIRING FELONS TO PAY RESTITUTION BEFORE THEY CAN VOTE AGAIN. THAT WAS A PROVISION IN LEGISLATION THAT FAILED TO PASS THE SENATE THIS YEAR. &gt;&gt; THEY ARE HURDLES FOR PEOPLE TO OVERCOME SO IT STILL KIND OF PUTS THAT BLOCK ON GIVING PEOPLE INCENTIVES FOR WANTING TO STAY FREE AND BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. CHRIS PATE’S HOPING THAT’S NOT : THE CASE. &gt;&gt; IF THERE’S NO RESTRICTIONS AND EVERY FELON IS ABLE TO VOTE THEN HEY, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY HALLELUJAH AND I THINK THATAdvertisementAdvocates for felon voting rights hope for order with no strings attachedGov. Kim Reynolds told Mason City radio station KGLO on Tuesday that she plans to sign an executive order to restore voting rights for convicted felons.Iowa is the only state that automatically denies the right to vote to convicted felons.An executive order is one of several demands made of lawmakers by Des Moines Black Lives Matter.Robert Pate, founder of The Inmate Movement Against Gang Evolution Program (The I.M.A.G.E. Program) has long advocated for restored voting rights for Iowans convicted of felonies.“Guys coming out of prison, they want to feel like they're part of society,” Pate said. “They don't want to feel like they're restricted or left out.”Reynolds said she is still drawing up the executive order, but Pate worries there could be roadblocks for Iowans before they can vote again.Namely, requiring felons to pay restitution before they can vote again.“They're hurdles for people to overcome, so it still kind of puts that block on giving people incentives for wanting to stay free and be law abiding citizens,” Pate said.Pate said he is worried the executive order will come with strings attached but hopes that is not the case.“If there's no restrictions and every felon is able to vote, then hey, I would have to say, ‘Hallelujah!’ And I think that this is a huge step, and I think that this is gonna make a huge difference moving forward.KCCI contacted Reynolds’ spokesperson to learn if the governor’s order will include a restitution requirement but did not hear back.Reynolds previously said she felt averse to issuing an executive order on felon voting rights, saying she would prefer to see lawmakers solve the issue for good.Gov. Kim Reynolds told Mason City radio station KGLO on Tuesday that she plans to sign an executive order to restore voting rights for convicted felons.Iowa is the only state that automatically denies the right to vote to convicted felons.AdvertisementAn executive order is one of several demands made of lawmakers by Des Moines Black Lives Matter.Robert Pate, founder of The Inmate Movement Against Gang Evolution Program (The I.M.A.G.E. Program) has long advocated for restored voting rights for Iowans convicted of felonies.“Guys coming out of prison, they want to feel like they're part of society,” Pate said. “They don't want to feel like they're restricted or left out.”Reynolds said she is still drawing up the executive order, but Pate worries there could be roadblocks for Iowans before they can vote again.Namely, requiring felons to pay restitution before they can vote again.“They're hurdles for people to overcome, so it still kind of puts that block on giving people incentives for wanting to stay free and be law abiding citizens,” Pate said.Pate said he is worried the executive order will come with strings attached but hopes that is not the case.“If there's no restrictions and every felon is able to vote, then hey, I would have to say, ‘Hallelujah!’ And I think that this is a huge step, and I think that this is gonna make a huge difference moving forward.KCCI contacted Reynolds’ spokesperson to learn if the governor’s order will include a restitution requirement but did not hear back.Reynolds previously said she felt averse to issuing an executive order on felon voting rights, saying she would prefer to see lawmakers solve the issue for good.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementAdvocates for felon voting rights hope for order with no strings attachedHide TranscriptShow TranscriptIT HAS BEEN A MAJOR DEMAND OF THE DES MOINES BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. AND ON TUESDAY, JUST BEFORE MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SAYS SHE PLANS TO FULFILL IT. AN EXECUTIVE ORDER RESTORING CONVICTED FELONS’ RIGHT TO VOTE. IOWA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT AUTOMATICALLY DENIES THEM THAT RIGHT. &gt;&gt; GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON, THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE PART OF SOCIETY. THEY DON’T WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE RESTRICTED OR LEFT OUT. CHRIS...

Gov. Reynolds to sign executive order on felon voting rights

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