Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear waited until the final weeks of his administration to issue an executive order restoring voting rights to nonviolent former felons. Beshear didn't want the issue to become politicized in the governor's race, so he waited until after the election to sign this order.
"The right to vote is one of the most intrinsically American privileges, and thousands of Kentuckians are living, working and paying taxes in the state but are denied this basic right," said Beshear in a release, just before announcing his move at a press conference in Frankfort. "Once an individual has served his or her time and paid all restitution, society expects them to reintegrate into their communities and become law-abiding and productive citizens. A key part of that transition is the right to vote."
Kentucky was one of only four states that did not automatically restore the voting rights of felons after the final discharge of their sentence—whose numbers in the state are estimated to be 181,000, with most of those convicted of nonviolent crimes. Though legislation amending Kentucky's constitution to restore the voting rights of nonviolent felons has easily passed the state House in recent years, it was continually blocked in the state Senate—with Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, vowing to continue blocking it because he was once jeered by a handful of voting rights activists in a committee meeting.
Former felons convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses, bribery or treason will remain ineligible to vote, or to serve in public office. Incoming Republican Gov. Matt Bevin supported the legislation to restore voting rights (probably because he also wants to restore their right to own guns) during his campaign, so it's likely Beshear's executive order will stand.