July 28, 2020

DES MOINES BLM HIGHLIGHTS INACTION OF IOWA GOVERNOR

Voting rights have long been a fight within the intersections of race, class, gender, status and other identity factors. Iowa is the only state which strips those with felony convictions of their right to vote, even once sentences have been completed. There are over 60,000 Iowans who have been disenfranchised. Of the Black population in Iowa, 1 in 10 adults cannot vote. Des Moines BLM recognizes who is systematically eliminated from the voting process and is demanding Governor Reynolds take immediate action.

On June 12, Des Moines BLM met with Governor Kim Reynolds about issuing an executive order that would reinstate voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions. The Governor said she would draft a statement for consideration to be available for the following meeting.

In this meeting, Governor Reynolds also committed to signing a future executive order. In the next meeting on June 15, Governor Reynolds did not have the EO language which she had committed to draft for this second meeting.

It has been 43 days since Governor Reynolds pledged that she would sign an executive order restoring voting rights for Iowans. No action has been taken. There has been no progress, to the publicʼs knowledge, from the State of Iowa to reinstate voting rights to approximately 60,000 disenfranchised Iowans.

On July 11, Des Moines BLM released original drafted language for an executive order to reinstate voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions. This was sent to the Governor and shared with the press. It has been 17 days since this EO language was delivered. Governor Reynolds has neither responded to nor signed the executive order.

Governor Reynoldsʼ lack of progress on this issue leaves a shameful stain on our state. Des Moines BLM is once again calling for Governor Reynolds to take immediate action and sign the EO today.

Black Lives Matter.