Janelle Irwin Taylor
Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court Pat Frank is partnering with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to help ex-felons restore their right to vote.
Workers with the government agency will be on hand Friday at 11:30 a.m. to offer convicted felons who have served their sentences to have any remaining fines or fees keeping them from having their voting rights restored.
Florida voters approved Amendment 4 that allows nonviolent ex-felons to have their rights restored after they’ve completed their sentences, but the Florida Legislature in its implementing language tied that restoration to any remaining financial obligations.
The Clerk’s office reviewed dozens of cases in which convicted felons completed their sentences but still had remaining fines and is discounting those obligations 40 percent.
The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition will cover the remaining fines and fees through its initiative to get returning citizens back onto the voter rolls.
Friday’s event is one of 10 around the state in which the coalition will distribute donations to help nearly 200 people complete their sentences and become eligible to vote.
The coalition’s Fines and Fees Fund, which launched this summer, was set up to help returning citizens to breakdown those financial barriers they face in becoming re-eligible to vote.
“My office stands ready every day to help people take the steps necessary to regain their right to vote,” Frank said. “Voting is an important part of the American way of life and will help those convicted of felonies to become active and engaged members of our community.”
Other counties participating include Orange, Miami-Dade, Seminole, Lake, Polk, St. Lucie, Hendry, Brevard and Alachua.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren announced this week a similar initiative with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and Hillsborough Public Defender Julianne Holt to waive fines and fees for those who cannot afford to pay.
“I can’t think of a better gift to give someone this holiday season than the ability to participate in democracy,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the coalition. “The ability to cast a ballot means your voice can be heard, that is a gift and a blessing.”
3 comments
The Swampfox
December 20, 2019 at 12:43 pm
What a crock!! First of all the government local or otherwise should not intervene as a mediator for convicted felons to pay off their fines. By doing so it sends a clear message that committing a felony will still keep you in favor with a “get out of jail card” from the SAME GOVERNMENT that convicted you!! How crazy is that! If the fines are a part of the punishment then it is u to them to make that effort to pay them of themselves. IF they have a job then it’s solely up to them! Plain & simple. It appears to me that Pat Frank is eager to get as many voters registered (and I’ll bet she’s a “dyed in the wool democrat!”) democrat before the 2020 election. How pathetic. I’m calling for her resignation!!
Clarence
December 20, 2019 at 10:35 pm
That’s a good thing. It prevents the fascist republicans from their voter suppression tactics. When I voted yes for amendment four it was my understanding the the vote would be automatically restored. That’s it. The fascist republicans are scared that if too many people vote, the democrats will win.
The Swampfox
December 21, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Clarence, Clarence, the word fascist is trite. Please look up the word fascist, it is exactly what the democrats are doing.Suppressing freedom aka.freedom of speech, a media that does not report accurately, gun confiscation et al. Everything the democrats are doing they are attempting to blame the republicans for. FYI I wrote an article on this 2 yrs ago. IF you paid attention to the hoax impeachment hearing how that was handled was a farce. Furthermore, Once the rest of this is exposed by Durham and Barr the left will go on a crying spree claiming all of it is a setup when in fact the setup started before the 2016 election by Hillary “Ramrod” Clinton under the tillage of Barack “Hussein” Obama. FYI We encourage everyone to vote it s the democrats that have been notorious in Florida for stuffing the ballot box. This year we’re tightening the screws on that and you won’t have the luxury of the “graveyard vote” and the fake ballots written off by democratic operatives. Clarence get on the right side of the issues.
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