(Updated) (Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order this (Wednesday) morning to automatically restore voting rights to most paroled felons.

The order restores voting rights to about 40-thousand people statewide, though it won’t apply to those convicted of murder, manslaughter or serious sex crimes. Reynolds had advocated for an amendment to the Iowa Constitution to make the change — but indicated she would sign the executive order after that process stalled in the Iowa Legislature.

Reynolds says lawmakers still needs to approve the amendment so it can be voted on by Iowans.

Betty Andrews, who heads the N-double-A-C-P of Iowa and Nebraska, thanked the governor for keeping her promise to sign the order.

The order technically restores citizenship rights and does NOT require repayment of victim restitution before a felon can vote. State Legislator Ako Abdul-Samad has pushed for the executive order as well and was on hand for the signing.

The order, which technically restores citizenship rights, does NOT require repayment of victim restitution before a felon may vote. That was a sticking point for many Republican legislators who balked at the idea of automatically restoring felon voting rights, and Reynolds says she wanted to let that discussion continue while the legislation was in the works.

The governor says she has talked with the groups which pushed for the change and they plan to have a bigger celebration in the future.