On December 14, 2023, District Court Judge Thomas R. Lehmann dismissed a challenge to the constitutionality of the Restore the Vote Act (Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2A (2023)), which provides that a person with a felony conviction “has the civil right to vote restored during any period when the individual is not incarcerated for the offense.”
The district court found that the legislature does have the authority to restore voting rights, based on a February decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following statement:
"With voting starting in the presidential primary on January 19, it is critically important Minnesotans understand their rights. I am grateful for the clarity this decision provides to the more than 55,000 Minnesotans who had their right to vote restored under this legislation. Once again, the law remains that if you are not currently incarcerated – a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of Minnesota for 20 days – you can vote.”