Minnesota Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Felon Voting Rights Law

Judge rules conservative group lacked legal standing to sue and failed to prove Legislature overstepped its authority.

Anoka County Judge Thomas Lehmann dismissed a lawsuit challenging a new Minnesota law that restores voting rights for felons once they've completed their prison time.
The Minnesota Voters Alliance, a conservative group, argued that the law violates a clause in the state constitution that says felons cannot vote 'unless restored to civil rights.'
Judge Lehmann ruled that the Minnesota Voters Alliance lacked the legal standing to sue and failed to prove that the Legislature overstepped its authority.
The judge cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling from February that put the burden on the Legislature to decide whether voting rights should be restored when people leave prison.
The Minnesota Voters Alliance plans to appeal the decision.