The legislative battle is a reminder of the high political stakes in Florida, where voters backed both Barack Obama and Donald Trump in recent presidential elections. The marquee races in last year’s elections, U.S. Senate and governor, were so tight that both were forced into recounts.
Florida’s constitution previously stripped voting rights from convicted felons. Florida’s governor and elected members of the Cabinet have the power to restore rights, including voting rights, to former prisoners, but the process and rules have changed based on who is in charge. In January, local election supervisors began accepting voter registration forms from state residents previously considered ineligible to vote. But they’ve left it to the Department of State to determine whether or not a registrant was newly eligible under the amendment.
Democrats likened the requirement to a poll tax that forced residents to pay to register to vote. Amendment 4 backers say the Republican interpretation goes beyond what voters approved. Grant pushed back against critics, noting that attorneys representing Amendment 4 supporters told state Supreme Court justices in 2017 that court costs and fines were considered part of someone’s sentence.
This is not a poll tax. Voting rights are restored when your debt to society is paid. Your debt isn't paid until your restitution and court fees are paid in full. Seems like common sense, I can't fathom how people can't understand or call that a poll tax.
We need those 1 million registered voters AndrewGillum
That's unconstitutional! 24th amendment prohibites any poll tax on federal elections!
Can a GoFundMe be established to help people cover their court fees? How could that be managed? Asking for a State.
These petitions need to be better written. They need to be truly self activating with clauses like “If the measure is approved, it will become law on January 3, 2019” for example.
Slimy Florida politicians did same to the medical cannabis Amendment
Republicans are, again, ignoring the will of the voters, in hopes of preventing other (likely Democrat voting) American citizens their right to vote. GOP knows they are done if they allow a fair voting system to exist. Same reason they're clinging to the Electoral College.
And we will vote them out FlaDems RonDeSantisFL FLSenateGOP
Liars, get some facts! Let me report: they are establishing a rule for murderers and pedophiles, who, as voted are not allowed to vote.
Once you serve your time. Why should u continue to be penalized.
Just because they want clarification of the crimes they were sentenced for, and who would qualify, doesn’t seem to be a huge deal. At least it’s not like CA Gov Gavin Newsome, who said he would not allow anyone on Death Row to be executed, against the wishes of the voters.
What even is the point of democracy sometimes, know what I mean?
Good because murderers and pedophiles should not get a vote. IMHO
You mean break the constitution right?
As a Floridian, this is nothing new. It doesn’t matter what amendment the voters have approved, this slimy GOP Leg will work to subvert it by, say, misappropriating its funding or this kind of BS. We must start running viable Dems for seats in the FL statehouse
And what else did we expect. Republican victories in Florida have been so thin that anything, like Amendment IV, can tip the balance. The orlandosentinel reports that they are even broadening the definition of “sexual felonies” so that even more remain disenfranchised.
Well this is what happens when you vote for Republicans, or actually exactly why white conservatives vote for Republicans 🤷♂️
So the Florida GOP won’t honor the vote of the Florida citizens ACLUFL NAACP DemocratsFL
Course they are, what other option does a party of dinosaurs have? Anything they can do to limit voting, so American of them!
of course they are. when more of us vote, more of them lose.
Republicans undermining the clear will of the people (64%). What a shock. NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN!
We voted to reinstate voting rights for example felons while also voting for republican leadership. How stupid.
soledadobrien shaunking finneyk rosierifka
*Slavery...in the aftermath of slavery...as a way to keep supposedly free blacks from voting. Let’s be honest about it...mmkay?
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