No voting for registrants in Florida – Governor denies all pending clemency applications.
We are beginning to be notified by members who had pending applications for civil rights restoration that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has summarily DENIED all pending applications for restoration of voting rights for anyone with a murder or sex offense.
This is HORRIBLE!
The letters say:
Dear Mr XXXXXXX,
On March 10, 2021, the Governor exercised his clemency powers to deny the pending clemency applications of all murderers and felony sex offenders. Accordingly, the Governor has denied your request for clemency and your application has been closed.
Under the current Rules of Executive Clemency, you will be eligible to reapply for clemency on March 10, 2023, two years from the date of the denial.
There is no appeal process for the denial of a clemency request.
Sincerely,
XXXX
XXXX
Coordinator, Office of Executive Clemency
The denial of restoration of civil rights not only prevents impacted people from voting, but it also precludes them from obtaining certain professional licenses.
We need to fight this!!!
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This will be my last post for a very long time. While I am greatful for all the comments on here with many of the post about these registry ordeals whether good or bad it seems to me that FAC is a bit more understanding about all this “hanis type of injustice” in their state.
Even the word “Action” is good and yes there is a good action and their is bad action. One will have to excuse my spelling as I am not into all this quick fix type of registry or quick answering type comments.
Yes we shuld all give thanks to the Justice we do have. Whether some governors seem to go over the “golden rule” is a bit disturbling to many in many states. Hey I’m with many of you all about this registry in many ways that is running amuck.
Yes leaders of truth are good and as FAC has said their committee take no particiality in Republicans or Demoncrates. Yes every one of you in Florida can make a difference for true Justice. Whether one has a little bit of righteousness or is striving for the truth, we should all remember the truth will set you free.
Go for the goal Florida Action Committee.
DeSantis is echoing Amendment 4. Why would he do otherwise? I agree with the comments indicating we should have fought – sued – over Amendment 4. It is horrible legislation in its creation of a lesser class (within the Constitution!!) of Florida! I was very open regarding my opinions at the time. Come back for us?! Really?! What’s the chance of that? Some of the new voting public are most likely the same inmates who tormented, stole, and assaulted us while incarcerated. Our only hope is to legally challenge Amendment 4 on its face (which should have been done two years ago) or leave the State of Florida, which is what the general public wants.
Can you share why you are so sure they would not come back for us? Were you involved in the work it took to get Amend 4 to go thru. Did you see the polling numbers? Because I did.
“Those” that would come back for us would do it for the same reason they championed it for the others. The belief that once you pay your dues it is better for everyone that a person come back as a productive member of society.
I hear too many people focusing on criticizing, don’t become involved in the effort, and then Monday morning quarterback.
I am not a lawyer so please enlighten me as to whether Amend 4 can be litigated, and what that means. Does the whole thing become invalidated when you litigate and thus every felon loses and we are back to square one?
Or do you feel there a legal grounds to sue the state because the people of the state voted but because two classes of people were not on the ballot means they are guilty of discrimination? How can you legally argue they would not have voted in favor of including the two classes? I am not sure I understand your stance and please share because if there are valid legal standing to sue due to exclusion (even though under law we are not a protected class) then I am all in and will chip in to litigate.
You are correct in that Florida does not consider those convicted of a felony to be a “protected class”. The key reason I believe there will be no coming back for those left behind and placed in an additional/separate/unequal “constitutional” class (under-class), is based on the polling numbers that you saw. What do you think the odds are that the voting citizens of Florida would support an amendment strictly to allow (include) the isolated group of those with felony convictions of murder and sex offenses the right to vote? I bet the odds are less than 5%. The Governor slapped the RSO community in the face just like Amendment 4 did. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for those who can now vote under Amendment 4. It is deeply regrettable however, that the committee did not put forth more effort to simplify the initiative to include all convicted felons in Florida, period. In terms of causes of action, that’s not up to me to post on this forum, but for a Florida legal team to review and file.
G
A lawsuit of discrimination would be thrown out as soon as it was filed. Felons, or ex felons, are not a protect class. (At least not in Florida)
If they tried to say no jews, blacks or people in wheel chairs could vote, that would be considered protected classes.
“Judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.” James 2:13. I wouldn’t be surprised if a sinkhole opened up and swallowed the Governor’s mansion. In the end, he’ll get all of the justice God has stored up for him on judgement day either way.
As for me, I’m glad to dispense mercy whenever I am able. I know how much has been shown to me.
Go where? Who wants a Sec offender from florida
Is there ANYONE is not surprised? I mean I saw this coming a mile away. He is running for President in 2024 and wants to show he is tough on crime. That includes past crimes, current crimes and future crimes.
That is all, please resume your daily lives and thanks for playing along in this episode of “What will the Government do next”?
If voting is that important to you, my advice would be to move out of state before 2024 and make sure you vote against him in the primaries and general election for your new state of residence. Your vote doesn’t count in Florida anyway.
On another thought, if Florida makes you declare a temporary residence for most out of state travel, could one declare themselves a resident of another state for the purposes of voting (since they have to go through so much trouble anyway)? I wonder what states have the least restrictive residency requirements for voting purposes?
Sir Cherokeejack…..
You State, “and future crimes.”
So, ‘THESE’ People can Predict the Future? On What Empirical Data?
So They can Predict anything? Predict the Powerball Numbers?
-Please let me know!
And CherokeeJack, I always appreciate your Posts!
make it a great day
When I completed my sentence, the rules were 15 years no arrest, voting rights automatically restored. How is it Florida is allowed to change the rules, from what was givin at the end of my sentance? Post De ex Facto thats how!!
Read Harper v Virginia Board of Elections, 383 US 663 (1966) and tell me this is constitutional.
As mentioned, the difficulty is financing any litigation.
As long as registrants are tightfisted with their money, these unconstitutional laws will go unchallenged and will only get worse and worse.
The problem isn’t DeSantis and politicians like him.
The problem is 99% of registrants are all talk but silent when it comes time to pony up the cash.
Registrants who remain silent deserve to suffer the effects of these unconstitutional laws. I stand behind the 1% but the other 99% are wasting their time if they knock on my door seeking help.
I showed the U.S. Supreme Court case that says they cannot discriminate against a class (at 666). It’s up to Florida registrants either to pony up the cash or to stay silent and suffer the effects of their silence.
It’s difficult to pony cash on a slave salary. Most of us have minimum wage jobs the don’t pay much more than rent. It’s one of the reasons that so many of live on the streets.
Detroit, I do believe you are misinterpreting the decision and are generalizing beyond the holdings and case specifics. You must remember that most of what is written is just dicta and not binding law. Dicta, like dissenting opinions, does not need to be followed, although it may have an influence on future decisions. It is only the Court’s holdings that truly matter. Holding c states:
“(c) The interest of the State, when it comes to voting registration, is limited to the fixing of standards related to the applicant’s qualifications as a voter.”
So a State can determine voter qualifications, i.e. fix standards, within certain constitutional boundaries. It is truly unfortunate, but I don’t believe those convicted of murder, sex offenses or any felony would be considered a “class” as you interpret it.
Janice Bellucci of ACSOL was absolutely correct when she pointed out that a frivolous court action could result in an adverse decision that would make things worse. Arguing that felons are somehow a “protected class” would likely result in the Supreme Court holding that they are not, which would close doors at lower court levels. Even more likely is that the Court would not grant cert and appellate courts’ adverse decisions would stand.
In typical Army jargon, your assertion would be considered “pissing into the wind,” getting everyone’s feet wet. Battles need to be picked carefully.
Veritas.
And state-mandated fees have to be paid or it’s more jail time. Those who have means should put skin in the game. Too many want to reap the rewards of someone else’s sacrifice. Let someone else put their necks on the line by speaking out.
It’s just beyond me wrapping my brain around them being able selectively omit groups from being able to vote. You can have a felony list as long as my arm and get your right to vote again as long as you dont have a sex charge or murder. Drugs, home invasion, carjacking, bank robbing your good. Are they afraid we would have a tremendous power to sway an election. Ron Desantis could use 70,000s vote we could provide.
It’s truly sick! To just summarily deny an entire class of citizen from voting REGARDLESS of what they have done in the decades since their offense is sick. It’s a slap in the face! It says that no level of repentance will ever get you anyplace, so why bother? This is a sick, sick, sick state!
Has anyone with a sex offense ever received civil rights restoration and what about anyone awaiting a full pardon? Were they denied also or just the CR restoration?
Anne
Just my opinion, but, I think the only way for someone with a sex offence to get a pardon, is if they truely were 100% not guilty and had hard facts, evidence and witnesses to prove such.
We are considered lower on the totem pole than the Taliban by most people. Heck I might do a poll, “Would you rather live next to a registered sex offender or a Taliban Terrorist waiting to for Jihad instructions?”.
Why would you vote for your oppressor? You kerp voting that kind of person or mindset into office and expect different outcomes!! Definition of insanity.