Court grants voting rights to former felons

Judges have restored voting rights to an estimated 55,000 North Carolinians on parole or probation for a felony. GOP state lawmakers, who were defending the law in court, plan to appeal yesterday’s ruling to a higher court. But if the ruling is upheld on appeal, then people convicted of felonies in North Carolina will regain their right to vote once they leave prison. ‘‘Everyone on felony probation, parole or post-supervision release can now register and vote, starting today,’’ the challengers’ lawyer, Stanton Jones, said in a text message yesterday.