Felons Seeking Right to Vote in Florida

Convicted felons who have done their time, paid their fines and taken steps to turn their lives around are hoping Floridians will pave the way for them to reclaim the right to vote.

To that end, the Clearwater-based Floridians for a Fair Democracy organization is promoting a petition drive that would put the issue in the hands of voters in time for the 2016 election. Dubbed “Say Yes to Second Chances,” the drive for signatures is aimed at supporting “The Voting Restoration Amendment.”

If approved, the constitutional amendment would enable some – not all – convicted felons to regain the right to vote. For example, people who have been convicted of murder or sexual offenses would not be eligible to regain their voting rights under the proposal.

“Florida is one of only three states with a lifetime ban on voting,” Floridians for a Fair Democracy explains on its website. “The Amendment modernizes Florida’s criminal justice rules by bringing our state in line with others nationwide.”

Should the amendment stand up to voter scrutiny, felons would not necessarily be automatically granted the right to vote.

“People must fully complete all terms of their sentence, including probation and parole, before they earn back their right to vote,” the website explains.

More than 600,000 signatures from registered voters are required statewide to get the initiative on the ballot, according to Fox News. It is unclear just how many signatures have been garnered statewide.

To learn more about the campaign, visit Floridians for a Fair Democracy online.

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