ACLU of Iowa Media Statement: Iowa Legislature Fails to Pass HJR 14
The ACLU of Iowa issued the following statement after the Iowa Legislature adjourned and failed to pass HJR 14, a proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting eligibility to Iowans with a felony conviction in their background.
“Today’s turn of events allows Iowa’s worst-in-the-nation felony disenfranchisement system to stand—for now. Iowa’s disenfranchisement law has been especially devastating to Black communities across Iowa, where one in 10 Black adults cannot vote because of a felony conviction. This means entire communities have a reduced voice in our government and it perpetuates the problems of a deeply flawed criminal justice system. The ACLU of Iowa is committed to ending felony disenfranchisement in our state, and has been working in coalition with our allies toward this day for over a decade. We’re not about to give up now.”
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