Nevada governor signs bills on felon voting, sealing some pot convictions

Associated Press

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada’s governor has signed criminal justice reform bills that restore voting rights to convicted felons and streamlines the process for sealing low-level marijuana convictions.

Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak signed both the measures Wednesday as the legislative session continues on in its final days.

The voting rights legislation gives felony offenders the right to vote after being released from prison, instead of granting certain felons the right to vote two years after being released.

Sisolak says some 77,000 state residents will have their voting rights restored due to the legislation.

Sisolak also signed into law a bill that makes it easier to seal a past low-level marijuana conviction by permitting a person to request a court to seal criminal records tied to any offense that is decriminalized.