The Iowa Legislature is trying to clean up some language in the state’s constitution that would allow felons the right to vote.

District 24 Senator Jerry Behn of Boone says Thursday the Senate passed a House bill that would allow a felon to vote if they served their sentence and paid victim restitution. Currently, Iowa is the only state in the U.S. that does not allow felons the right to vote. Behn has been a long-standing advocate for victim restitution and since the bill included that language, he was happy to vote in favor of it.

He explains that prior to passing the House bill the Senate passed another piece of legislation last Friday for a constitutional amendment allowing felons to vote.

“I think it’s a two-step process. I think we have to have the constitutional amendment, and then if the constitutional amendment passes, then this bill would take effect and would regulate the way it actually works.”

Since both Chambers passed the amendment this session, it must pass next year’s legislative session and then Iowans must vote in favor for it to be added to the state’s constitution.