BATON ROUGE (AP) - A new Louisiana law taking effect in March aimed at restoring voting rights to some former felons still under supervision may reinstate the rights to thousands more people than expected.

  

During debate on the bill, the measure's sponsor said about 3,500 people could regain the right to vote under the legislation. Months later, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports that advocates and elected officials say the number could be up to 36,000 people.

  

Officials were aware the new law will restore voting rights to people living in the community on parole with no problems for five years after prison release, along with people on probation for five years.

  

But legislators, advocates and prison officials say the law might also apply to the majority of people on probation who had their voting rights suspended.