A Political Double-Take That Sparked Central Iowa Confusion
“I am a felon and people like myself actually can vote,” John Williams said.
John Williams wanted a tax cut for working people, so he appeared in a campaign advertisement for Zach Nunn.
Realizing the Truth Behind Social Media Scrutiny
Williams realized he had misunderstood his own legal status after reading critical comments on social media and talking with community organizers. He discovered that his voting rights had actually been restored automatically once he completed his probation and parole supervision.
Executive Order 7 and the Legal Framework in Iowa
In 2020, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Executive Order 7, restoring voting rights to most people with felony convictions who have finished serving their sentences, including probation, parole, and other supervision. The order carved out exceptions for individuals convicted of homicide offenses, but otherwise returned the franchise to disenfranchised Iowans.
Steve Foritano, a Drake University law professor who spoke with Williams to clarify his eligibility, explained how the mechanism works in practice.
“They’re automatically restored once they’re off probation, once they’re off parole, once they’re off any kind of supervision,” Foritano said, adding that “it allows people that were disenfranchised to have a voice again.”
Bridging the Information Gap for Eligible Voters
Williams thought he still had to complete an application or formal reinstatement process before casting a ballot.
Now, Williams serves as the director of Everyone Votes Iowa. He is partnering with the Iowa Creator Corps to host a voter registration drive outside the Polk County Election Office to bridge that information gap.
“As easily as I didn’t know that I could vote, I’m pretty sure there’s hundreds if not thousands of other people that don’t know they can still vote,” Williams said.
Polk County Hosts Voter Registration and Early Voting Event
The voter registration event is scheduled for Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. Williams, Foritano, and other local community leaders are slated to speak at the drive. Eligible Polk County residents who attend will also have the opportunity to cast their ballots early at the election office.
Foritano encourages anyone with lingering questions regarding their specific voting eligibility to consult the official Iowa Secretary of State’s website for guidance.
