More than 4,200 Iowans have died from COVID-19, and food insecurity in the state has been pushed to it highest level in living memory by economic damage from the pandemic. Still, Gov. Kim Reynolds told the Iowa Legislature at the beginning of her Condition of the State speech on Tuesday night that “the condition of […]
Voting Rights
Iowa is no longer the only state to disenfranchise all people convicted of felonies

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order that automatically restores the voting rights of almost all Iowans convicted of a felony, as well as their right to hold public office. The bill excludes people convicted of murder and manslaughter, although they can still individually apply to the governor for the restoration of their rights. “Iowa […]
Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association launch a task force to examine police-community issues

The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association (IPCA) announced the creation of a new statewide task force to work on improving relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. “It is undeniable that now is the time for improving law enforcement and community relationships. Those relationships are authenticated by transparent practices […]
Gov. Reynolds says she will issue executive order restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies

Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed on Tuesday she has committed to signing an executive order restoring voting rights. Details about the order are not yet finalized, Reynolds said while visiting a Test Iowa site in Osage. “We’re working on that right now, sitting down with various groups, listening to what they think is important what is […]
‘We want to prevent further erosion of our voting rights’: An event focused on voting rights will be held on Sunday
Election Day equality: Access is crucial for those with disabilities

Voters with disabilities can face challenges when heading to the polls, including difficulty finding transportation to polling locations, challenges accessing polling booths or filling out traditional ballots and anxieties surrounding the voting process that may discourage them from participating. But local groups in Johnson and Linn counties are working to make sure these barriers do […]
New coalition to fight for felon voting rights in Iowa

Seventeen Iowa organizations have formed a coalition to pursue legislation and a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to Iowans with a felony conviction. Iowa is one of only four states with a permanent constitution voting ban for people with felony convictions, and one of only three states that require individuals to apply for a […]
Felons struggle to regain voting rights in Iowa

Voting Rights For All Iowa City Public Library Room A, B, C — Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 from 7-9 p.m. Hosted by Inside Out Reentry and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County Tracy Gryp keeps a framed copy of her voting rights restoration certificate signed by Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2005. She stuck […]
Immigrants, refugees in eastern Iowa navigate their way to the voting booth

Shouts and cheers in a mix of French and occasional English rang out on Coe College’s Clark Field in Cedar Rapids last month as soccer players from countries across Africa vied for a goal. The game celebrated the mixture of cultures immigrants bring to eastern Iowa, but the overarching goal was to raise awareness about […]