State governments have the power to determine whether or not former felons can regain voting rights.

The debate surrounding the granting of voting rights to felons has been ongoing for many years.

The Associated Press has reported that the decision to restore these rights is ultimately up to the states and the parties they represent. Depending on the state, felons were not even allowed to cast their vote in the November general election. Nebraska, for instance, requires felons to wait two years before they can register to vote after completing their sentence. TJ King, a former convict, was hoping to vote in August, but he will not be eligible to do so until November 2024. He noted that “voting gives a little bit of your strength back and a little bit of your voice back,” and that having a say in what happens in one's society and state is extremely important.

Recently, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been the focus of attention due to his strict laws on felons registering to vote. A new election police unit has been set up to handle this process, resulting in more than 3,000 cases, some of which were captured on body cam video.

However, it appears that there is a glimmer of hope. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently signed House File 28, which restores the right to vote to convicted felons who have completed their term of incarceration. This has enabled more than 55,000 individuals to once again exercise their right to vote.

Oregon and Tennessee are looking to pass similar bills, with Oregon's allowing felons to vote while incarcerated, while Tennessee's would automatically restore voting rights upon the completion of a sentence. Texas is also looking to pass legislation that would provide voting rights to those on probation or parole.

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