Florida Moves Towards Reenfranchising Ex-Felons
And it’s Republican Governor Charlie Crist leading the way. Kudos.
Share This
Share This
An Internet hub for centrists, independents and moderates with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting and popular features from the left, center and right.
Share This
A Democrat-Friendly Republican Governor! Maybe that’s who should run with Giuliani or Romney as VP.
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
With this, the republicans cannot continue to corrupt the electoral system by falsely listing thousands of non-felons as felons at the voting places, like they did in the 2000 election, thereby preventing Americans from their constitutional right to vote. Though republicans should really not complain, since the dozens of recently indicted republican politicians, associates, and, lobbyists will be able to move to Florida and vote after they serve their prison terms. This is truly an equitable trade-off.
While I think this is a good idea I am still unsure whether or not it should be something that is universal for all ex-felons. If this is put in place, should there be limits, should there be a system put in place to determine which should regain their right to vote and who should not?
Its a surprise to see a GOP be the first. I guess I have no problem with it unless their a sex offender or serial rapist.
Well, this comes as an utter surprise to me. Why would ex-convicts not be able to vote? What is the logic? Is this applicable to federal elections?
It seems quite appalling to me, that one can be deprived of voting rights after serving one’s time in prison.
The United States continues to amaze me after all these years.
Charlie Crist has won my respect for working to reverse one of the most despicable legacies of Jim Crow. Felons are disfranchised while in jail; voting is among many rights they give up. But once they are released, there is no compelling state interest to keep them from voting. None. They’ve done the time; they’re rights should be restored. Atty. General McCollum is a complete and utter moron as is the police chief. Worrying that a sex offender might commit another sex crime shortly after release is a serious and warranted worry. But there is just no risk to the people or to the democracy if a felon gets to vote upon release.
Not all civil rights are returned to all felons. Their right to own guns is not restored. Certain professional licenses will be denied them, mostly the ones that have to do with handling large amounts of money. But I have always felt that voting rights should be restored as soon as someone has finished serving their sentence. If you hope to integrate them back into society then doing as much as possible to alienate them from that society should not be written into law.
This Bill only grants a felon civil rights if they have paid all of their restitution, so it is not automatic per say.
It does not grant gun rights, you have to still apply at the office for clemency.
Dale- Ah yes. Again we see that money is required to achieve equality.
“At its founding in 1838, Florida adopted its
original criminal disenfranchisement provision, which
extended to those convicted of “infamous crimes.� Given
that blacks were unable to vote at that time, petitioners’
historical expert conceded, and the Eleventh Circuit found,
that the “origin� of the felon disenfranchisement rule had
nothing to do with race discrimination.”
In The Supreme Court of the United States
THOMAS JOHNSON, et al.,
Petitioners,
v.
JEB BUSH, Governor of Florida, et al.,
Respondents.