EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER SEVENTY
WHEREAS, the act of filing an application for restoration of the rights of citizenship is
an important and necessary aspect of an offender’s process of reintegration
into society; and
WHEREAS, the payment of restitution owed by an offender after having been
completely discharged from criminal sentence is an important component
in determining if the restoration of rights of citizenship is appropriate; and
WHEREAS, offenders ought to fulfill their financial obligations to pay court costs and
fines, and the restoration of the rights of citizenship process can serve to
address the problem of unpaid obligations by facilitating the payment of
court costs and fines; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Iowa and the Iowa Code provide an
appropriate process and necessary flexibility to ensure that the process for
restoration of citizenship rights is just; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order Number 42, dated July 4, 2005, issued by Governor
Thomas J. Vilsack utilized a process that granted the restoration of
citizenship rights automatically; and
WHEREAS, Article IV, section 16 of the Constitution of the State of Iowa empowers
the Governor with authority to restore the rights of citizenship that were
forfeited by reason of conviction.
Now, therefore, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, by virtue of the
power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Iowa, do
hereby order that:
I.
II.

Executive Order Number 42, dated July 4, 2005, issued by Governor Thomas
J. Vilsack, shall be rescinded.
Nothing in this Order shall affect the restoration of the rights of citizenship
granted prior to the date of this Order.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto
subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of
Iowa to be affixed. Done at Des Moines this 14th
day of January, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eleven.
____________________
TERRY E. BRANSTAD
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:
____________________
MATTHEW SCHULTZ
SECRETARY OF STATE