Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolNovember 2, 2018

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 […]

Guest AuthorNovember 2, 2018

As Tuesday, Nov. 6 quickly approaches, Floridians will set out to place their votes and partake in one of the most pivotal recurring events in United States history. This year, in particular, the number of ballots for state and local proposed constitutional amendments may seem daunting for Floridians as the list has exponentially grown since […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 2, 2018

During a ceremony honoring the newly unveiled Civil Rights Institute at Florida State University, Desmond Meade, activist and spokesperson for the push to restore felon voting rights in Florida, told the audience that the next civil rights milestone is just days away. “Tick, tock,” refrained Desmond Meade, who also serves as the president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. […]

Jacob OglesOctober 30, 2018

A constitutional amendment aimed at restoring voting rights for ex-cons seems poised to pass, but another that would ban offshore oil-drilling and indoor vaping seems doomed to fail. That’s according to a new University of North Florida poll. The poll, released today by the Public Opinion Research Laboratory, asked likely voters how they would vote […]

Drew WilsonOctober 29, 2018

A new statewide poll found Florida voters are in favor of the constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons who have done their time but aren’t so keen on adding a “crime victim bill of rights” to the state’s governing document. The St. Pete Polls survey found 60 percent of likely voters support Amendment 4, […]

Staff ReportsOctober 28, 2018

On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was the latest in a series of high-profile bipartisan endorsements for Amendment 4, also known as the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” on the 2018 ballot. “Amendment 4: In Florida 1.4 million people cannot vote because they have been convicted of a crime, even after they have paid their price to society […]

Jacob OglesOctober 26, 2018

For leaders of the Christian Coalition of America, the letting ex-felons vote seemed a no-brainer. “Redemption and second chances are really at the heart of the Christian faith,” says Keith den Hollander, national field director So now the famously conservative organization stands with liberal organizations, like the ACLU, in championing Amendment 4, which would automatically […]

Guest AuthorOctober 24, 2018

Florida is one of just four states that bans individuals with past felony convictions from voting for life. This has resulted in 1.4 million Floridians, roughly 10 percent of the state’s voting-age population, being unable to vote. An estimated 27 percent of all disenfranchised formerly incarcerated people in the country reside in Florida. Amendment 4 […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2018

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops announced support this week for Amendment 4, which offers rights restoration for reformed felons. The Amendment would automatically restore felons’ voting rights after they complete their sentences, with murderers and felony sexual offenders exempted. “Our belief in the transformative power of redemption is core to our faith. Amendment 4 […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 15, 2018

With vote-by-mail underway and early in-person voting just a week away, the Second Chances Campaign announced a $5 million broadcast ad buy Monday. The pro-Amendment 4 group’s television and radio spots will include personal stories from reformed felons who are still denied spent, and from experts in favor of restoring civil rights for those who […]

Tag: Amendment 4
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Voting rights restoration backers tout millions of voter contacts

Rick Asnani: A voter’s guide to the 2018 Florida Amendments

Felon rights restoration leader sees impending election as countdown to ending ‘Jim Crow’ policy

Poll: Amendment 4 poised to pass; Amendment 9 doomed to fail

St. Pete Polls: Voting rights restoration amendment primed to pass

‘An important step’: Bernie Sanders backs Amendment 4

Christian Coalition of America presents conservative argument for Amendment 4

Martin Horn: Amendment 4 is good criminal justice policy

Catholic Bishops back felons’ rights restoration Amendment 4

Ex-felon voter restoration Amendment 4 gets $5M ad buy