A constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights for felons was shut down by the senate judiciary committee. Earlier this session the house passed a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would restore the right to vote and to hold office for those who have completed their sentence and have been discharged from probation, parole, and work release on felony offenses.

Republican Representative Joe Mitchell thought this was a step in the right direction, “I thought it was one of the best bills we’ve passed this year. After they have paid all their debts back and served their time, then they would get their voting rights back, which I think is very important. I think that America is a place of second chances, and I know that people deserve a second chance to get their rights back to vote. I know a lot of ex-felons that I’ve talked to and it’s very important to them, and it gives them a lot more dignity. They’ve served their time, they know what they’ve done wrong and they would like to get that civil liberty back, so I think it was a great bill that we passed.”

The amendment was then sent to the state senate, where the judiciary committee decided not to vote on it. Democratic Senator Kevin Kinney said in his recent update that, “I believe it is a step in the right direction; it will give thousands of Iowans the voice and the second chance they deserve after paying their debt to society.” For the change to go into effect, it must first pass two successive General Assemblies, then be voted on by the public.