The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday maintained a 2023 law allowing people convicted of felonies to vote as soon as they are released from prison, a decision that could impact more than 50,000 Minnesotans just a month before early voting begins for the state’s November election.
The court rejected a challenge from the conservative Minnesota Voters Alliance, concluding it lacked standing and failed to prove the law exceeded the authority of the state Legislature.
The 2023 law expands voting rights to people convicted of crimes who are on probation and parole, about 55,000 people in the state. Previously, convicted felons must have completed probation or parole before they could vote.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) praised the decision, noting that he first introduced a measure to expand voting rights for people with felonies when he was in the state House in 2003.
“This is an extremely important decision. It is a democratic decision. It’s an inclusive decision and I couldn’t be happier,” Ellison said in a video message wednesday.
“So we have a big election scheduled for August 13th. We have an even bigger election scheduled for November 5th and you can participate in it,” he continued. “You can vote and you can leave your mark and give your opinion on the governance of our society. And that’s a big deal.”
“So a 20-year battle, a year-and-a-half court battle, but it proves that if you persist, you can win,” he added. “So get out there and vote and tell all your family members to vote. This is a great day. Today is a day of liberation and emancipation and is a reason to celebrate.”
With Wednesday’s ruling, about half the country, 23 states, allow people convicted of crimes to vote as soon as they are released from custody, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Two states and Washington, D.C., allow them to vote while in prison.
Several states expanded voting rights for people with felonies last year, including a judge who struck down a North Carolina law in April that made it harder to vote. However, similar legal challenges in Mississippi and Nebraska have gone the other way, upholding laws that impose restrictions on their voting rights.
Polls conducted since former President Trump was convicted of crimes earlier this year have found that the idea of people with crimes voting and being able to hold office is more popular than before.
Fifty-eight percent of Republican Party voters said in a June survey that people convicted of crimes should be allowed to become president. Just 17% of Republicans held this view in April.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
