Hello from Florida

[Coexist]

Haven't posted here in awhile - but as heartbroken I am over Gillum's loss, Floridians may have just changed our national political landscape.

I wanted to offer you this beautifully bright ray of hope -- Amendment 4 passed, restoring voting rights to well over 1 MILLION FLORIDIANS. More Floridians now have voting rights, than the entire population of the states of North Dakota, Wyoming, and Vermont

[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article221021940.html|

Any significant change in the makeup of the electorate would upend politics in a state with a recent history of extraordinarily close races. Rick Scott beat Alex Sink for governor eight years ago by a mere 61,550 votes. Four years ago, Scott won reelection over Charlie Crist by 64,145 votes.

Donald Trump won Florida over Hillary Clinton two years ago by 112,911 votes, securing him the presidency.
...

More than half of those who lost their voting rights, 52 percent, were Democrats like Graham and another 33 percent were independents with no party affiliation. Only 14 percent were Republicans.

People who lost their right to vote over marijuana possession, can now vote in the next election. And 500k of them are Democrats. In a swing state that has wins/losses by razor thin margins.

Think about that.

[OrlandoDem2]

1. Do you have a link for the breakdown of whom is now enfranchised?

[Coexist]

4. Here:

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/11/02/amendment-4-democrats-and-blacks-more-likely-to-have-lost-voting-rights-than-republicans-and-whites/

[OrlandoDem2]

5. Thank you!

[kes]

2. Hello from SWFL

That is good news, and I voted for it. But as soon as my wife retires in two years, i'm leaving this horrid racist state. The only way I would stay is if Florida was split into two states. South Florida and North Florida

[Loge23]

9. Agree - Hello from SE FL!

We have to stay energized!
We can mourn and be depressed for today and today only.
I'm trying to convince myself btw.

[Coexist]

12. Hello!

[Coexist]

11. I"m sorry you'll be leaving

[kes]

13. And I hate

That it seems the only way for me to restore my sanity. Florida has a lot of assets, but also a lot of negatives. And it is so backward. We are originally from Ky, and it is WAY more progressive than Florida, believe it or not. But somehow the morons in the mountains keep electing Mitch and Rand. I think we are heading west. My wife got her Doctorate at UCLA so we may go there or Colorado

[Cetacea]

3. Recount likely eom

[Blue_true]

6. The ex felons that will get to vote are largely minority men and women.

I voted for 4, but honestly, I thought that it would come up short. So there was a ray of hope from Florida.

[Coexist]

7. i know!

it has me excited - my party needs to identify likely Dems, and do outreach, registration, and follow up

[Blue_true]

8. Exactly and damned start it now instead of waiting until 2020. nt

[Coexist]

10. Yup!