Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Drew WilsonOctober 23, 2018

The committee sponsoring the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” which would restore voting rights to Florida felons who have completed their sentences, spent more than $1.8 million of its reserves pushing the proposal on the airwaves, online and via direct mail between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12. Floridians for a Fair Democracy, which led the drive to […]

Guest AuthorOctober 10, 2018

There is a direct link from the work of my namesake and relative Susan B. Anthony, who fought for a woman’s right to vote in the mid-1800s, and the modern-day suffragists urging us to pass Amendment 4 on the ballot this November in Florida. Growing up, I was told the stories of Anthony and Lucy […]

Drew WilsonOctober 8, 2018

The committee sponsoring the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” which would restore voting rights to Florida felons who have completed their sentences, added more than $600,000 to its coffers during the last full week of September. Floridians for a Fair Democracy, which led the drive to get Amendment 4 on the ballot, received 138 contributions for the […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 17, 2018

Florida’s 13 million voters have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help convicted felons who have paid their debt to society earn the right to vote, and to a second chance. Called the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” a proposed constitutional amendment will grant most of the 1.7 million convicted felons the right to vote and help select their […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 14, 2018

The Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Koch Industries VP Mark Holden, said Thursday that it was behind a 2018 ballot amendment that would restore voting rights to non-violent felons who have completed their sentences. “We believe that when individuals have served their sentences and paid their debts as ordered by a judge, they […]

Drew WilsonMay 2, 2018

Nearly three quarters of Florida voters say they would support a ballot amendment to restore voting rights to ex-cons, a new poll found. The survey, conducted jointly by North Star Opinion Research and EMC Research, found that supermajority support for the measure regardless of the political party. “This amendment has the strong bipartisan support needed […]

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2018

The man behind a proposed constitutional amendment to restore ex-cons’ voting rights wants voters — not “politicians” — to decide the issue. Desmond Meade, who’s backing this year’s “Voting Restoration Amendment,” on Wednesday said an appellate court should issue a “stay” in a separate but related federal lawsuit on restoring felons’ voting rights. The proposal, which […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 12, 2018

In response to a federal judge saying that the Florida’s voting rights restoration process is unconstitutional, the state’s legal team said Monday the state’s clemency board should fix its flaws — not the courts. State Solicitor General Amit Agarwal argued that U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should not issue any corrective orders, saying “there is […]

Jim RosicaOctober 31, 2016

A panel of state economists haven’t been able to figure out how much the Voting Restoration Amendment would cost the state. The proposed change to the state constitution would automatically return voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference is tasked with estimating costs of constitutional amendments. This one gave them a struggle. “It is probable […]

Tag: Voting Restoration Amendment

‘An important step’: Bernie Sanders backs Amendment 4

Voter restoration amendment backers spend another $1.8M on ads

Susan Frederick-Gray: Our opportunity to support Florida’s modern-day suffragists

Billionaires, Ben & Jerry’s back felons’ rights amendment

Reggie Garcia: Amendment 4 will save taxpayers money, give felons a second chance

Koch-backed Freedom Partners endorses voting restoration amendment

Voters overwhelmingly support felon voting rights amendment

Let voters decide on felons’ voting rights, advocate says

State, voting rights group disagree on how to handle clemency process

Cost of Voting Restoration Amendment? Experts unsure