An inmate at the Cook County Jail wears an “I Voted” sticker after casting a ballot in the Illinois primary election in March 2020. Some states recently have passed laws to restore voting rights for people who have felony convictions, while others have moved to implement or strengthen restrictions. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
As political campaigns scramble for every vote, the Plains states of Nebraska and Oklahoma have passed laws that aim to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions. Thousands of voters could be brought back into the political process, potentially influencing election outcomes in some communities.
Other states have also taken steps to expand or restrict ballot access for residents who have been convicted of felonies. The laws might affect just a few thousand voters in each state, but in close races those numbers could make a difference…