Amendment To Restore Voting Rights To Floridians With Felonies Makes Ballot

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo




By Matt Shuham | January 23, 2018 11:40 am

Florida voters will decide this November whether to restore the voting rights of the vast majority of about 1.7 million Floridians with felony convictions who have completed their sentences.

The Orlando Sentinel first reported Tuesday that Floridians for Fair Democracy, led by Desmond Meade, had successfully gathered more than 799,000 certified signatures to get the issue on the ballot, surpassing the necessary threshold by tens of thousands and counting. The measure wouldn’t affect those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, the Sentinel noted.

“The moment I found out, tears just started streaming down my face,” Meade told the paper. “As someone directly impacted, I cannot quantify the level of emotion moving through me right now.”

Floridians make up roughly a quarter of all Americans who have permanently lost their right to vote due to a past felony conviction, according to the ACLU.


Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/floridians-ballot-vote-convicted-felons

[The Blue Flower]

1. A huge deal: thanks to all who signed

Now we have to GOTV in November for it to pass.

[mountain grammy]

2. Way to go, Florida!

[MichMan]

3. Why are some crimes excluded?

[csziggy]

5. "The measure wouldnt affect those convicted of murder or sexual offenses"

As stated in the OP.

[MichMan]

6. I can read, but why are those excluded?

[csziggy]

7. Probably because they are considered more serious charges

I'm not sure I agree with cutting out certain groups of felons, but is a huge step for Florida to get this on the ballot at all. I just hope it passes.

[Codeine]

8. Presumably because it would have a less than zero chance

of getting enough votes if it allowed murderers, rapist, and pedophiles to regain voting privileges.

[winstars]

4. It, for some reason, needs 60% yes votes to pass. Good luck with that Florida...

[Massacure]

9. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Florida has a population of about 20 million, so the odds of any given voter knowing at least one of the 1.7 million felons is pretty high. I suspect that people who vote democratic will vote for this out of principle, and the people who vote republican may be willing to consider voting for this if it enfranchises a close friend or relative who wants to vote but cannot.