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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFlorida lawmakers might not give voting rights back to felons even though 64% of voters want them to
Mariana Alfaro 17h
According to WFTV 9, a local news station in Florida, the state has put enforcement of the amendment on pause until the new governor, Republican Ron DeSantis, is sworn in. WFTV reported that lawmakers are waiting to see if the Florida Legislature might need to weigh in on the measure. The amendment, which would restore voting rights to more than 1.5 million felons, does not call for any involvement of this kind.
In Florida, 23% of African-American adults cannot vote due to a previous felony conviction. Amendment 4, the measure that would change that, received wide support among residents in a state with strict clemency laws. It was scheduled to take effect on January 8.
Now, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles told WFTV that "it could be that the new governor and secretary of state have a new direction" regarding the establishment of the measure.
https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-lawmakers-might-not-restore-voting-rights-to-felons-2018-12
Takket
(21,565 posts)you don't need the approval of the governor and/or legislature to approve implementation of a ballot measure. if you did then what is the point of even having ballot measures? you could just let the state government make the law. When the state government is against the will of the people, the ballot measure in the people's means to override them.
The measure passed and if a former felon walks in a SoS office the day it takes effect there is no legal reason to deny them a voter registration.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Wisconsin, Michigan, election stealing in NC, vote suppression in Georgia and every other redstate no doubt. And now Florida with it's new racist POS governor!
Republicans don't give a damn what the voters want at all.
angrychair
(8,699 posts)Elections have consequences
Solly Mack
(90,765 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)On the day of implementation in January a red county will stop a felon from registering. The ACLU will immediately file suit.
On the same day several blue county secretaries of election will follow the very clear language of the amendment and start registering felons.
And the republicans will start screaming.