Push To Restore Felon Voting Rights On Hold Until Next Year

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Advocates for restoring felons' voting rights faster are hoping to try again next year.

Minnesota law bans felons from voting until they've completed parole or probation. Advocates made headway this year in their long push to restore that right immediately after felons are released from prison. They say it's an essential right that would ease the transition back to society for an estimated 47,000 people.

But that provision was stripped from a budget bill funding courts and public safety programs passed by the Legislature Sunday.

Sen. Ron Latz says it was hard to give up on voting rights this year. But the St. Louis Park Democrat says House Republican leadership has agreed to work on the issue and try to pass a bill next year.