Two bills that would grant felons voting rights and illegal immigrants the ability to obtain driver’s licenses were passed by the Minnesota Senate on Feb. 22. Passed in a 35-30 vote, the “Restore the Vote” bill (pdf) would restore the voting rights of convicted felons immediately after they are released from jail. The bill’s passage…

Lawmakers in Illinois are advancing a bill that seeks to provide incarcerated individuals voting rights in the state. The measure, Senate Bill 828, is being sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Ill.) and seeks to overturn the current state law, which prohibits individuals serving a sentence in a state or federal prison, county jail, or…

A left-wing civil rights group is asking the Supreme Court to review the felon disfranchisement provision of the Mississippi Constitution that permanently prevents certain felons from voting, claiming the law is rooted in racial animus. The appeal is not expected to affect the approaching Nov. 8 elections. The petition (pdf) in the case, Harness v….

The civil rights of 3,496 formerly incarcerated Virginians were restored by the state’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday. “I am encouraged that over 3,400 Virginians will take this critical first step towards vibrant futures as citizens with full civil rights,” Youngkin said in a May 20 press release. “Individuals with their rights restored come…

The Justice Department announced Friday a guide to address the issue of voting rights in different states after being convicted of a felony. The guide details steps that can help one understand whether and how a convicted American citizen, who meets the age and residency requirements, can exercise their right to vote. It also provides…