Gov. Steve Sisolak signed legislation Wednesday restoring the voting rights of Nevada's convicted felons. He predicted the new law will add 77,000 people to the rolls, growing potential turnout about 3 percent in one of the nation's most politically competitive states.
"I'm so excited about the positive impact these bills will have on our communities, especially communities of color," the governor, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter.
Starting July 1, the ability to vote will be automatically restored to felons who have been released from prison and completed parole, making Nevada the 39th state with policies restoring the franchise to the previously imprisoned. The measure was a top priority for the Democrats, who won total control of state government in 2018, but it cleared the legislature with solid bipartisan support.
One of Last’s screenshots of Energy Community Maps, blurred for security purposes. (Courtesy of Dan Last)