Minnesota joins nearly two dozen other states in restoring prisoners' voting rights after release

Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Waltz has signed a law ending voting bans for convicts under felony probation or supervision – joining nearly two dozen other states with similar rules. 

The change will give over 55,000 felons the right to vote in Minnesota, according to the Washington Free Beacon. 

"As a state that consistently ranks among the top three in voter turnout, Minnesota will continue to lead in the fight to protect and expand the right to vote," said Walz, who on Friday signed the "Restore the Vote" bill.

The act goes into effect on July 1. Minnesota previously allowed felons to vote once they cleared probation, prison time, and supervision.

State Republicans argued those in Minnesota who commit serious crimes should complete probation before being able to vote.

Minnesota will join 21 other states that restore voting rights after prison release, according to Epoch Times.

Twenty-one other states restore the voting rights of felons once they leave prison, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, including Republican-led North Dakota, Indiana, and Utah.

Convicted felons in Maine, Vermont and the District of Columbia are allowed to vote while they are still incarcerated regardless of their crimes.

In 16 states, felons lose their voting rights while incarcerated and for a period of time after, also according to the conference.

Eleven other states strip felons entirely of voting rights for some crimes, or require a pardon by the state’s governor or other action for rights to be restored.