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Iowa Simplifies Voting Restoration Process for Felons

Thousands of Iowa felons will have an easier time applying to win back their voting rights after changes to the application form were announced Wednesday.

Thousands of Iowa felons will have an easier time applying to win back their voting rights after changes to the application form were announced Wednesday.

 

But civil liberties advocates portrayed the change as a small improvement to a policy that will continue to keep ex-offenders out of Iowa voting booths unless it's completely overhauled.

 

Gov. Terry Branstad announced the new streamlined application form along with a review of the applications required for other executive clemency actions, including firearm rights restoration, pardons and commutations of life-in-prison sentences. The review is meant to "streamline the process and find government inefficiencies," according to a news release.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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