Voting rights for some felons restored

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The outgoing Democratic governor of Kentucky has signed an executive order to restore the right to vote and hold public office to thousands of non-violent felons who’ve served out their sentences.

Gov. Steve Beshear signed the order last week. He leaves office next month.

Kentucky was one of four states that did not automatically restore voting rights to felons once they completed all the terms of their sentences.

The Kentucky legislature has tried and failed numerous times to pass a bill to restore voting rights to felons. The Republican-controlled Senate would agree only if there was a five-year waiting period, which Democrats refused.

Beshear’s order doesn’t include those convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses, bribery or treason.