Ryan Nicol
Second Chances Florida, a group supporting a constitutional amendment which would restore voting rights to felons who have served out their sentence, says it’s been in touch with millions of people throughout the state as they prepare to vote on the measure Tuesday.
Amendment 4 would grant felons voting rights so long as they were not convicted of “murder or sexual offenses.”
Second Chances has stood behind the measure, hoping to convince voters to support it on Election Day. Their efforts seem to be paying off, as polling shows support for Amendment 4 above the 60-percent threshold required to enact amendments to the state constitution.
Second Chances says it has recruited more than 12,000 volunteers this election cycle to make more than 2 million phone calls, more than 2 million text messages and knock on more than 3 million doors.
Desmond Meade, Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy and spokesperson for the Second Chances campaign, seemed confident about the amendment’s odds next Tuesday.
“We are energized by the people who are supporting Amendment 4 and ready to take the Second Chances campaign across the finish line on Election Day,” Meade said.
“We are grateful for the wonderful people from all walks of life who have been the heartbeat of this grassroots movement, and have worked hard for friends, family and neighbors who’ve made past mistakes and paid their full debts as ordered by a judge.”
It’s not just voter contacts which have registered in the millions for the group. Second Chances has also spent millions of dollars on ad campaigns meant to reach prospective voters.
The measure has also earned a wide variety of endorsements, from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to Christian and Catholic groups.
“Amendment 4 is all about second chances and the opportunity to earn back our eligibility to vote, and we urge Florida voters that have not yet cast their ballot to vote YES on Amendment 4,” Meade said.
