Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesOctober 1, 2018

Voters remain uncertain about a constitutional amendment that would restore felons’ voting rights, according to a new Florida Chamber of Commerce obtained by Florida Politics. The poll shows 42 percent plan to vote “Yes” on Amendment 4, the Voter Restoration for Felons Initiative, while 20 percent will vote “No.” Meanwhile, 36 percent of voters remain […]

Danny McAuliffeMay 21, 2018

A group of activists converged on Tallahassee on Monday to share far-reaching ideals including but not limited to abolishing capitalism, dismantling U.S. and Israeli intervention in Palestine, and giving southwest U.S. land to Mexico. The rally cries came on the first floor of the state Capitol, and while most seemed unrealistic — at least in […]

Danny McAuliffeMay 4, 2018

For some, Friday is a special day. The date marks the 150-year anniversary of Florida’s constitutionalized disenfranchisement of voters, a Jim Crow-era policy that’s still relevant in 2018, as the state revokes voting rights for convicted felons — even after they’ve completed their sentences. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, Florida is one […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will appeal a federal judge’s order to devise a new process for restoring voting rights to felons. The Governor’s Office announced the move Wednesday morning. The appeal will be filed with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. “People elected by Floridians should determine Florida’s clemency rules for […]

Staff ReportsMarch 29, 2018

Democratic state Sen. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg is calling on Gov. Rick Scott to “fix the ‘fatally flawed’ voting rights restoration process for convicted felons.” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker of Tallahassee this week issued a permanent injunction declaring Florida’s restoration process in violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments. “It is past time for Florida to revise […]

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham said Tuesday that Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet need to bring back the voting rights restoration process implemented by Gov. Reubin Askew and used by her father, Gov. Bob Graham. Graham’s demand came after a federal judge blocked Florida’s “fatally flawed” process of restoring voting rights and gave Scott […]

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 […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 7, 2018

As the Senate motored through a long list of budget amendments on Wednesday, a proposal to boost funding to deal with the mounting clemency case backlog was tossed. Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Pinellas County Democrat, withdrew his own amendment, which would have given the Florida Commission on Offender Review $500,000 in ongoing state funds to […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 24, 2018

As Florida voters prepare to decide whether to automatically restore the voting rights of about 1.5 million felons, the state is grappling with how to handle its lengthy backlog of clemency cases. More than 10,000 felons are currently waiting for their applications to be reviewed by the Florida Commission on Offender Review, which has to […]

Tag: voting rights

Florida Chamber poll: Many undecided on restoring felon voting rights

Felon rights restoration on horizon for Poor People’s Campaign

On disenfranchisement anniversary, voting rights activists push for Amendment 4

Let voters decide on felons’ voting rights, advocate says

Rick Scott, Cabinet appeal voting rights ruling

Darryl Rouson on voting rights: Fix this now

Gwen Graham: Rick Scott and Cabinet should take a page from Reubin Askew

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

Senator’s proposal to boost funding for clemency case backlog withdrawn

Senate proposes $500K to tackle backlog of clemency cases