Minnesota Supreme Court

The Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld a law restoring voting rights to 55,000 individuals with felony convictions who are on parole, probation, or supervised release, a significant change from the previous requirement to complete their entire sentence. The Minnesota Voters Alliance challenged the law, arguing it violated the state constitution by allowing individuals to vote before fully regaining all civil rights. However, the court unanimously ruled that the group lacked standing to challenge the law, emphasizing that their concerns were incidental to the main legal issue regarding voting rights. Supporters of the law argue it promotes community reintegration, while critics claim it may benefit Democrats politically. This ruling comes as Minnesota approaches its primary elections, with many of those affected now eligible to vote. The decision reflects ongoing debates about felony disenfranchisement and its disproportionate impact on communities of color in Minnesota.