Felons will get to vote in FL (Of course they will, why do you think Gore was so close?)

Florida to Help Felons Get Back Voting Rights

MIAMI � Florida agreed to help restore voting rights to nearly 125,000 convicted felons who didn't get enough advice on how to regain their rights when they walked free, officials said Thursday.





The agreement by the Department of Corrections will settle a case brought by civil rights groups. Leon County Circuit Court Judge P. Kevin Davey is expected to sign it by Friday.

About 94,000 of the felons will have to apply for a clemency hearing before the governor and Cabinet, but the rest can skip the hearing and will likely be able to vote within a year, said Randy Berg, lawyer for the Florida Justice Institute, (search) one of the groups bringing the suit.

Florida is one of six states that deny ex-felons the right to vote unless they take steps to have their civil rights restored by the state.

www.foxnews.com...

Yes, this all makes sense.

In fact, I am waiting to find out that you must either BE convicted of a felony, OR fail an IQ test to vote in Florida.

Thanks for sharing.

Huh?!?!

My understanding was that it is Federal Law that stipulates that anyone convicted of a felony has their rights revoked for a good many years and that the said felone must apply for re-instatement of individual rights for anyone convicted of felony can vote again?! Anyone convicted of a felony cannot ever possess a fire-arm again, etc. These, and a few others, are the rights lost to said individual upon conviction of a felony.

Those felones may be eligiable but according to the application for "Restoration of Rights: for certain Non-violent offenders" the requirements are:
Civil rights may be restored based on that the felone must have been free of any sentences, including any suspended sentence, probation or parole for at least three years. They must not have been convicted of any subsequent offence, either a felony or misdemeanor, during that three year period. Finally, they must have paid all court costs, fines, penalties and restitution and have no felony or misdemeanor charges pending......
Persons who have been convicted of a violent offense, a drug manufacturing or distribution offense or an election law offense are not eligible for this process to restore their civil rights.

What is the state law of Florida concerning restoration of rights?

Still don't make no sense but if Florida has a restoration of rights program it must still fall under Federal guidelines I would think. Perhaps this is what the article is saying or eluding to?

regards
seekerof

[Edited on 25-7-2003 by Seekerof]