Florida is moving towards granting 1.5 million Felons the right to vote by a ballot initiative on November 6th.
Florida voters will decide this fall if 1.5 million felons will get their voting rights back.
Desmond Meade of Orlando and his group Floridians for Fair Democracy successfully gathered more than 799,000 certified signatures in their years-long petition drive, just a week before the deadline to reach the required total of about 766,000. On Tuesday, the state certified the initiative for the Nov. 6 ballot.
If approved by 60 percent of voters in the fall, the amendment would restore voting rights to Floridians with felony convictions after they fully complete their sentences, including parole or probation. Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses would continue to be barred from voting.
I’m really not sure what to make of this. They are still keeping those who committed murder and sexual crimes from voting but that is not enough my eyes. Any violent crime should keep them from voting and hopefully, this initiative doesn’t pass until that is reconciled.
Darryl Paulson, a Heritage Foundation member, and supporter had some great insight into the political ramifications of this.
Darryl Paulson, a Heritage Foundation member and supporter of the ballot initiative, said that although most ex-felons support Democrats, studies show that only one-third of those convicted felons would register if given a chance.
“It runs both ways,†said Paulson, an emeritus professor of government at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. “Democrats clearly support the issue because they believe they will benefit, and Republicans tend to oppose it because they believe they will be hurt.â€
