Florida restores voting rights to more than 1 million felons

[mystery-ak]

Florida restores voting rights to more than 1 million felons

By Nicole Chavez, CNN

Updated 4:07 AM ET, Wed November 7, 2018

 (CNN)Florida has approved an amendment that will automatically restore voting rights to more than a million people previously convicted of felonies.
Felons who finish their full sentences, including fines, probation and parole, will now be allowed to vote in the state. The new law does not apply to anyone convicted of murder or sex offenses.
Florida's Amendment 4 passed Tuesday after exceeding the 60% threshold required to become a law.
"Over 60% of Florida voters took a stand for fairness and voting rights, and to remove an ugly stain that has been in our state's constitution since the Civil War era," ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon said in a statement.

When it goes into effect, an estimated 1.5 million people in Florida who have completed felony sentences but have not been able to vote could show up to the polls, according to the nonprofit Sentencing Project.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/florida-felons-voting-rights/index.html

[libertybele]

This was a tough vote as there are felons who have paid their price and paid their time, there are felons who have served no time, but have gone through various programs while on probation and then their are felons who are repeat offenders. In all these groups, none of their voting rights were restored. Unfortunately, the amendment didn't make any stipulations other than not restoring rights to felons who are murderers or sex offenders.

The first two groups, I don't have a problem with restoring their voting rights, but I do have a problem with restoring rights to repeat offenders.

[LegalAmerican]

What is the point, some vote anyway, for the democrats.  ILLEGALS...dead people.

[libertybele]

What is the point, some vote anyway, for the democrats.  ILLEGALS...dead people.

Yes, that is a consideration.  However, voting rights were restored under a Republican president, a Republican governor, and a Republican senator, and a heavily Republican state legislator. 

It's hard to say how this is going to play out, but Florida was one of only a handful of states that hadn't restored rights in some way to ex-felons.

Personally, I didn't cast my vote with consideration of gaining or suppressing votes for one party or the other, I cast my vote for what I felt was right.

[Idiot]

This was a tough vote as there are felons who have paid their price and paid their time, there are felons who have served no time, but have gone through various programs while on probation and then their are felons who are repeat offenders. In all these groups, none of their voting rights were restored. Unfortunately, the amendment didn't make any stipulations other than not restoring rights to felons who are murderers or sex offenders.

The first two groups, I don't have a problem with restoring their voting rights, but I do have a problem with restoring rights to repeat offenders.

Would you believe that Texas allows felons to vote?  They have since 1997 I believe, under Gov. Bush.  My brother mentioned this to me tonight and I had no idea it was true.

[sneakypete]

Florida restores voting rights to more than 1 million felons

By Nicole Chavez, CNN

Updated 4:07 AM ET, Wed November 7, 2018

 (CNN)Florida has approved an amendment that will automatically restore voting rights to more than a million people previously convicted of felonies.
Felons who finish their full sentences, including fines, probation and parole, will now be allowed to vote in the state. The new law does not apply to anyone convicted of murder or sex offenses.
Florida's Amendment 4 passed Tuesday after exceeding the 60% threshold required to become a law.
"Over 60% of Florida voters took a stand for fairness and voting rights, and to remove an ugly stain that has been in our state's constitution since the Civil War era," ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon said in a statement.

When it goes into effect, an estimated 1.5 million people in Florida who have completed felony sentences but have not been able to vote could show up to the polls, according to the nonprofit Sentencing Project.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/florida-felons-voting-rights/index.html

@mystery-ak

I know this ain't going to be popular at first glance,but isn't that the way it is SUPPOSED to be in this country? You commit a crime,serve your time,and your guns and all your rights are restored to you as you leave prison. Removing your RIGHTS to possess weapons and vote are the equivalent of a life sentence,even after you have served your time.

[sneakypete]

The first two groups, I don't have a problem with restoring their voting rights, but I do have a problem with restoring rights to repeat offenders.

@libertybele

I don't see how frequent fliers are going to be much of a problem because most don't stay out of jail for very long at any one time,and with each arrest they get harsher sentences. Or at least that is the way it is SUPPOSED to work.

The problem is with the current system that sentences someone convicted of a serious felony to 20 years,and they are out in less than 5. Next time they are convicted,the same thing happens. Make the sentence fit the offense,and if someone gets 20 years,make them serve the whole damn 20 years.  No time off for good behavior because good behavior is a requirement. Instead,add more time for bad behavior while locked away.

Of course this means some things will happen that some of you won't like,like non-violent "crimes" like personal possession of drugs becomes a misdemeanor and nobody gets a 20 year sentence for it. On the other hand,people who DO commit serious crimes like violent rape,crimes against children,treason,etc,etc,etc, get hit with heavy loads,and have to carry it all.

If the prison guards want to bitch about this making their jobs too tough or scary,tough titty. Let these wusses get new jobs.

Without serious time being directed connected to serious crimes,and minor time to minor crimes,the alleged justice system makes no sense at all. People who are a genuine danger to their fellow citizens and who prove this by committing violent crimes SHOULD be locked away for a long time. The whole purpose of sentencing someone to a long prison term is to punish them for what they did,while making the streets safe for normal citizens at the same time. You learn how to behave and follow the rules while in prison,or you keep getting more time added and you never get out.

[Frank Cannon]

This is absolutely shocking!!! There are only a million felons in a state like Florida? Just looking around the place there should be easily 8-10 million inhabiting the state.

[libertybele]

This is absolutely shocking!!! There are only a million felons in a state like Florida? Just looking around the place there should be easily 8-10 million inhabiting the state.

This is coming from you in your great State of ???

[Frank Cannon]

This is coming from you in your great State of ???

Confusion.

Listen lady. I have a TV. I have seen Cops. You are not fooling anyone down there.

[libertybele]

Confusion.

Listen lady. I have a TV. I have seen Cops. You are not fooling anyone down there.

    Sad but true. Thanks for the chuckle.  I really needed it after a crappy day.   

[Dexter]

I agree with this decision. I also don't think people should have their employment opportunities hindered because of felony charges other than specific circumstances. For example somebody that went to prison for child pornography shouldn't be allowed to work at a daycare. Other than stuff like that I see no reason why it should affect them. Did they pay their debt or not? Keeping shackles around their ankles after they get out just makes them way more likely to fall back into crime.

[dfwgator]

I agree with this decision. I also don't think people should be have their employment opportunities hindered because of felony charges other than specific circumstances. For example somebody that went to prison for child pornography shouldn't be allowed to work at a daycare. Other than stuff like that I see no reason why it should affect them. Did they pay their debt or not? Keeping shackles around their ankles after they get out just makes them way more likely to fall back into crime.

I say if it's such that we're not comfortable with them having their rights restored, simply have longer sentences.

[Frank Cannon]

I say if it's such that we're not comfortable with them having their rights restored, simply have longer sentences.

Better yet a death sentence for anything above J-Walking.

[RoosGirl]

This is absolutely shocking!!! There are only a million felons in a state like Florida? Just looking around the place there should be easily 8-10 million inhabiting the state.

There are, but half of them go back up north for the summer.  The other half are here because we don't have a wall.

[dfwgator]

Better yet a death sentence for anything above J-Walking.

Works for me.   

[Dexter]

Better yet a death sentence for anything above J-Walking.

Better not run any red lights.

 

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I guess ex felons will now flock to Florida to participate in voting.

Wonder what the residents were thinking anyway?

[Victoria33]

I had occasion to look for the law on this in Texas when a convicted criminal was running for office in our county.  So, in Texas, once you have served your time, paid any money, finished probation,etc., you can register to vote.  That makes perfect sense to me as you do not become a non-person when you commit a criminal act. Your penalty for criminal behavior is prison or other measures.  Once you have finished those penalties, the state cannot keep punishing you, which is what keeping you from voting, is.

[guitar4jesus]

@mystery-ak

I know this ain't going to be popular at first glance,but isn't that the way it is SUPPOSED to be in this country? You commit a crime,serve your time,and your guns and all your rights are restored to you as you leave prison. Removing your RIGHTS to possess weapons and vote are the equivalent of a life sentence,even after you have served your time.

Correct.

[sneakypete]

I guess ex felons will now flock to Florida to participate in voting.

Wonder what the residents were thinking anyway?

@IsailedawayfromFR

People from the northeast that own summer homes in Florida have been doing this for decades. I understand some airlines even run extra round trip flights to Fla and back on election day.

Years ago Joy Behar and some other dingbat on The View were even telling viewers the flight numbers and departure and return times,and telling NY viewers they could fly to Fla in the morning,and still be back home in time to vote and eat dinner in NY.

Illegal votes are the most valuable asset the DNC has.