Restored voting rights to individuals with felony records in Minnesota might face hurdles in getting put to use.

Key Policy Change: A new law quickly reinstates voting rights to individuals who are not presently incarcerated.
* Secretary of State Steve Simon is encouraging recently released individuals to exercise their right to vote.
* Voter registration forms are included in prison discharge packets, and rights are restored immediately rather than upon completion of supervised release or probation.
* Minnesota is among the latest states to restore voting eligibility for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Potential Hurdles: Despite the reform, there are doubts about whether these individuals will register to vote.
* The law potentially affects over 55,000 people in Minnesota.
* An analysis found that fewer than 25% of newly eligible voters with felony records registered to vote in the next presidential election.

Taking to the Streets: Some formerly incarcerated individuals are trying to drive up registration rates among their peers.
* Antonio Williams, who was incarcerated for 13 years and would have had to wait until 2025 for his voting rights to be restored, joined a canvas this summer in St. Paul to encourage voter registration.
* He mentioned his own excitement about being able to vote in the upcoming local elections.

Personal Story: The law and the ability to vote have had real impact on individuals.
* Former inmate Miranda Pacheco, who spent her early life grappling with abuse, addiction, and crime, and has now turned her life around, recently won a primary election for city council in Duluth.
* Pacheco cast her first vote for herself and uses her past experiences to motivate others by showing them that past mistakes can be overcome.

Ongoing Challenges: Despite progress, there are still barriers and litigation against the law.
* The law is being challenged by a conservative group over the way it was enacted, with a court hearing set for October.
* Voting participation among the affected group remains a concern due to issues like lack of targeted voter engagement and possible confusion over eligibility.

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