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State senators pass bill to restore felons' voting rights after release

The bill sits on Governor Ricketts' desk
Posted at 4:49 PM, Apr 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-25 20:35:14-04

Senators voted 28 to 8 on a bill that would restore the voting rights of felons right after serving their sentence and eliminate the two-year waiting period.  After a press conference Tuesday Governor Pete Ricketts says he is not in favor of that bill.

Senator Justin Wayne is pushing for a bill that would take away the two years felons would have to wait to vote. He says the law is outdated and holds people back from being productive citizens in society after serving time.

But Senator john Murante says taking away that two-year waiting period could possibly bring distrust to the election system.

The bill is currently sitting on Governor Pete Ricketts’ desk waiting to be signed or vetoed. Today the governor shared his views saying "I think waiting two years to prove that you can be a functioning citizen in society that you can keep your nose clean isn't too much to ask so I have no intentions in signing that bill. 

later why Senator Wayne feels this bill will help unify the community and the distrust Senator Murante thinks it will bring to the election system.