Today’s Good News: Progress on Felon Votes in Florida
You may know that Florida leads the nation in the percent of its adult population - 9% - that can’t vote because they’re ex-felons. You may also know that Republican Gov. Charlie Crist went against his party a year ago and made it easier for felons to regain their voting rights. What was welcome news to me is that a broad coalition is busting their humps right now to actually get these citizens back on the rolls. The Wall St. Journal caught up with this situation on Monday (see the whole story here). Some highlights:
Florida’s clemency board has restored voting rights to nearly 75,000 residents. But nearly 96,000 requests are pending, according to information through March 20. Activists say there might be an additional 400,000 people who have been rejected without explanation, making it impossible for them to be reinstated. I’m sure I don’t have to say “2000″ to you in relation to this issue. Let’s just say a lot of people in Florida are still enraged.
In Florida, churches are hosting rights-restoration sessions. The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a group of 40 organizations, is planning a daylong rally for April 1 in Tallahassee. The state’s clemency board is trying to reach out to as many people as possible to tell them of the changes. It held 17 hearings across the state and is preparing a leafleting campaign in convenience stores, churches and other well-traveled areas. The ACLU and University of Miami School of Law students are helping people to figure out how to reclaim their rights. The coalition is also calling on state leaders to find ways to make it easier for felons to find jobs.
Crist didn’t - or couldn’t - go all the way in restoring rights. It’s limited to nonviolent offenders, and felons must have completed their prison term, probation and parole, if applicable, and made any payments the court orders, including child support. [Yes, this discriminates against the poor. You don't even want to know the offenses that other states use to disenfranchise people - like DUIs. Dude, where's my country?]
Want to find out more or help out? See the FRRC website here.
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