And now that Iowa’s Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, is pressing for a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights, Kentucky’s status as an outlier has only grown more stark. In 2018, almost two-thirds of Florida’s voters - a clear bipartisan majority - approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to most Floridians with felony convictions. Ralph Northam, have granted clemency to restore voting rights to more than 200,000 people with felony convictions. And since 2016, he and his successor, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, had already begun to move in the right direction. At the time of Steve Beshear’s order, then-Gov. Virginia and Florida have since revoked their membership from this ignominious club. Steve Beshear’s executive order was rescinded, the list of states with a practice of permanently disenfranchising everyone convicted of a felony has dwindled to just two: Kentucky and Iowa. The last four years have validated his father’s actions many times over and reaffirmed that voters across the country - and across the political spectrum - believe everyone is entitled to forgiveness and a second chance. Now Andy Beshear can make rights restoration a priority and act quickly to ensure that his action has an immediate and lasting impact.
The Kentucky Constitution unequivocally gives the governor the power to restore voting rights “by executive pardon.” What’s more, the people of Kentucky have spoken - they want to extend a second chance to their fellow citizens. When Bevin rescinded the order in December 2015, he said rights restoration was “an issue that must be addressed through the legislature and by the will of the people.” Bevin was flat wrong. Moreover, Beshear’s order required people to apply for restoration, which was not possible for most people before its quick rescission, so its effect was mostly symbolic. Matt Bevin, rescinded the policy within days of taking office. Unfortunately, Steve Beshear issued his executive order at the very end of his term, and his successor, Gov. The order came after years of advocacy by impacted people and advocates, including the Brennan Center, and was a remarkable step forward for access to democracy in Kentucky. With his order, the elder Beshear announced his intention to restore voting rights to people convicted of nonviolent offenses after they completed their sentences. At that time, Kentucky was one of only four states that permanently barred everyone convicted of a felony from voting. Steve Beshear, tried to put into place when he issued Executive Order 871 in 2015. Prior polling suggested that the state’s voters overwhelmingly supported such a policy, and the election of Beshear, a candidate who ran on the issue, confirms it.īeshear now has a mandate to make good on the policy that his father, former Gov. Ending Kentucky’s policy of lifetime felony disfranchisement was a prominent part of Andy Beshear’s platform in the race to become governor. On Election Day, voters in Kentucky made a strong statement in support of expanding democracy and restoring voting rights to people with past felony convictions, building on a years-long trend around the country. Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring voting rights to over 100,000 people with convictions in their past. UPDATE: On December 12, 2019, Kentucky Gov. Attend the Brennan Legacy Awards Dinner.Advance Constitutional Change Show / hide.National Task Force on Democracy Reform & the Rule of Law.Government Targeting of Minority Communities Show / hide.Campaign Finance in the Courts Show / hide.Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Show / hide.Ensure Every American Can Vote Show / hide.
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