The face of voting is taking on change, and many are concerned that some of the changes are meant to slant elections toward the left.

One of the changes came in the form of the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday upholding a 2023 state law that restored the voting rights of felons once they have completed their prison sentence, as The Associated Press reported.

The new law was well-received by Democrats in the state, including Governor Tim Walz.

Walz has garnered his share of attention due to his recent announcement that he would serve as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in the presidential race.

Time of Change

The timing of the decision is crucial, as early voting for the primary election next week has already commenced. Voting for the general election on November 5 commences on September 20.

In response to a challenge brought by the conservative Minnesota Voters Alliance, the court previously dismissed the case, allowing the law to stand.

After determining that the group did not have the legal capacity to sue and that it did not prove that the Legislature overstepped its power when it voted to expand voting rights for persons who had previously been convicted for a felony, a judge from a lower court had earlier dismissed the group's claim. The Supreme Court reached the same conclusion.

Previous Legislation

Prior to the implementation of the new law, convicted criminals were required to finish their probation as a prerequisite for regaining their right to vote. As a consequence of this, it is believed that approximately 55,000 individuals with a criminal history were granted the right to vote.

Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison of Minnesota has been an outspoken supporter of the reform since his time in state government.

“Democracy is not guaranteed — it is earned by protecting and expanding it,” Ellison said in a statement. “I’m proud restore the vote is definitively the law of the land today more than 20 years after I first proposed it as a state legislator. I encourage all Minnesotans who are eligible to vote to do so and to take full part in our democracy.”

Other Laws

Over a dozen states, including Minnesota, have proposed reintroducing voting rights for convicted criminals in recent years.

Because of the reform, it is anticipated that approximately 55,000 people in the state of Minnesota regained their ability to vote.

Despite the fact that a law was introduced this year to instantly restore the voting rights of persons who have finished serving their felony convictions, officials in Nebraska went the opposite direction and determined that residents with felony convictions might still be denied the ability to vote.

A lawsuit has been filed against the decision that was made by the attorney general and secretary of state of Nebraska, both of whom are members of the Republican party.