[EL] Iowa Supreme Court narrows "infamous crimes" for ballot access purposes

[Kieran Williams]

The Iowa Supreme Court yesterday issued an opinion defining the meaning of "infamous crimes" in the Iowa Constitution as a basis for disqualification for candidacy (and voting). The upshot is that the term is not to be treated as synonymous with all crimes punishable by time in a penitentiary. The decision is here:

http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Supreme_Court_Opinions/Recent_Opinions/20140415/14-0553.pdf


An account of the oral arguments is here:

http://www.iowaappeals.com/iowa-supreme-court-hears-oral-arguments-in-high-profile-ballot-access-dispute/


As the initial commentary reflects, this may narrow the grounds for loss of the vote, even for people convicted of a felony:


Bleeding Heartland:: Divided Iowa Supreme Court rules Tony Bisignano can run in Iowa Senate district 17


Kieran Williams
Drake University
Des Moines, IA 50311-4505
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