Senate File 311
SENATE FILE
BY BOLKCOM, DVORSKY, QUIRMBACH,
DEARDEN, HOLVECK, HATCH,
CONNOLLY, HORN, KIBBIE, and
FRAISE
(COMPANION TO HF 178)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the restoration of the right to vote for
2 certain persons.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2240SS 80
5 sc/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 48A.6, subsection 1, Code 2003, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 1. A person who has been convicted of a felony as defined
1 4 in section 701.7, or convicted of an offense classified as a
1 5 felony under federal law. If When the person's rights are
1 6 later restored by the governor, or by the president of the
1 7 United States, pursuant to section 914.8, the person may
1 8 register to vote.
1 9 Sec. 2. Section 914.2, Code 2003, is amended to read as
1 10 follows:
1 11 914.2 RIGHT OF APPLICATION.
1 12 Except as otherwise provided in section 902.2 or 914.8, a
1 13 person convicted of a criminal offense has the right to make
1 14 application to the board of parole for recommendation or to
1 15 the governor for a reprieve, pardon, commutation of sentence,
1 16 remission of fines or forfeitures, or restoration of rights of
1 17 citizenship at any time following the conviction.
1 18 Sec. 3. Section 914.6, subsection 3, Code 2003, is amended
1 19 to read as follows:
1 20 3. In the case of a remission of fines and forfeitures,
1 21 restoration of rights of citizenship other than the right to
1 22 register to vote and to vote, or a pardon, commutation of
1 23 sentence, or reprieve, if the person is not in custody, one
1 24 copy of the executive instrument shall be delivered to the
1 25 person and one copy to the clerk of the district court where
1 26 the judgment is of record. A list of the restorations of
1 27 rights of citizenship issued by the governor shall be
1 28 delivered to the state registrar of voters at least once each
1 29 month.
1 30 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 914.8 RESTORATION OF RIGHT TO
1 31 REGISTER AND TO VOTE.
1 32 1. A person convicted of a felony criminal offense who has
1 33 been discharged from probation under section 907.9, discharged
1 34 from parole or work release under section 906.15, or who is
1 35 released from confinement under section 902.6 because the
2 1 person has completed the person's term of confinement shall
2 2 have the right to register to vote and to vote restored in the
2 3 manner provided in this section.
2 4 2. Upon discharge from confinement or supervision, the
2 5 department of corrections or judicial district department of
2 6 correctional services, whichever is applicable, shall provide
2 7 written notice to the inmate, parolee, or probationer of the
2 8 person's discharge which shall include a statement that the
2 9 person's right to register to vote and to vote has been
2 10 restored.
2 11 3. The department of corrections shall monthly provide a
2 12 list of all persons discharged from confinement or supervision
2 13 to the state registrar of voters who shall provide the
2 14 information to the county registrars of voters as deemed
2 15 necessary.
2 16 EXPLANATION
2 17 This bill makes restoration of the right to register to
2 18 vote and to vote automatic upon a person's release from
2 19 probation, parole, or work release, or upon completion of the
2 20 person's term of confinement.
2 21 The bill requires the department of corrections or the
2 22 judicial district department of correctional services to
2 23 provide written notice of restoration of voting rights to
2 24 persons upon discharge from confinement or supervision.
2 25 The bill requires the department of corrections to send,
2 26 once each month, a list of those persons discharged from
2 27 confinement or supervision to the state registrar of voters.
2 28 LSB 2240SS 80
2 29 sc/sh/8