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Nevada Legislature Passes Bill Restoring Voting Rights To Ex-Felons

The Nevada Legislature passed a measure to immediately allow ex-felons to vote, including those convicted in other states. 

The bill also allows people convicted of a crime, but not imprisoned, to cast a ballot. 

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the measure applies retroactively to previously released offenders. 

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If signed by Gov. Steve Sisolak, the measure would take effect on July 1. 

All eight Republicans in the state Senate opposed the bill, arguing it went too easy on people convicted of serious, violent crimes. 

In the Assembly, three Republicans joined 29 Democrats to advance the measure. The bill arrives on the governor’s desk more than a year after voting rights advocates threatened legal action if Nevada didn’t clarify felons’ rights on its voter registration forms. 

A spokesman for the Campaign Legal Center estimated the bill would restore voting rights to more than 77,000 residents.