Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in Minnesota
In Minnesota, persons with criminal convictions are restored the right to vote upon completion of sentence, including prison, parole and probation. The Brennan Center for Justice is collaborating with local allies, including Take Action Minnesota, to formulate a broad coalition of allies to work towards automatic restoration upon release from prison.
Legislative Advocacy
2009
In February 2009, two bills were introduced in both the House and the Senate that seek to restore voting rights and provide notice. S.B 564 and H.B 881 restore voting rights to individuals upon release from incarceration, and S.B 763 and H.B 545 requires individuals to be notified when their rights are restored.
Chris Uggen, professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota and Andre Corbett an individual with a past felony conviction, testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Elections of the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee in support of the bills. A video of the hearing is available in Window Media Format or Real Media Format (starts at minute 5:19). Both the Senate bills were recommended to pass by the Subcommittee and were debated on the floor in March 2009. S.B. 763 and H.B. 545 passed in the House and Senate, but was vetoed by the governor.
