Voting rights: In Florida, individuals with a felony on their record lose the right to vote; that’s how a large number of people, many of color, have been disenfranchised. Change on the horizon? If a proposal (Amendment 4) on the November ballot passes, the Florida constitution will be amended to automatically restore their voting rights. This is big, an estimated 1.5 million people would be affected. Now comes the Human Rights Defense Center with critical questions about the proposal:
“The restoration of voting rights for people with prior felony convictions is long overdue—but we must ask: why are some people still being left behind? The problem with Amendment 4 is that it perpetuates discrimination and bigotry against a sub-class of former prisoners and convicted felons, namely those convicted of murder and sex offenses.”
“If Amendment 4 passes, it will enshrine bigotry and discrimination against convicted murderers and sex offenders into the state constitution that will make enfranchising them virtually impossible. No one is talking about spending millions more to get their voting rights restored at some point in the future. More importantly, it will enable even greater discrimination against those convicted of murder and sex offenses in areas such as housing, education, government benefits, etc. by virtue of singling them out for disenfranchisement and thus discrimination.”
Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is a feisty Florida-based non-profit group that does important national advocacy work for incarcerated and detained individuals and others impacted by the criminal justice system. HRDC publishes the award-winning Prison Legal News and has waged countless legal and political battles for prisoners’ First Amendment rights.
Whether you live in Florida or not, please read HRDC’s powerful statement about Amendment 4. Don’t miss the final section, “Where does the Human Rights Defense Center Stand on Amendment 4?” Kudos to HRDC and Its director, Paul Wright, for the solidarity–fighting for “just us” is far different than fighting for “justice.” Below is a link to HRDC’s statement and a Palm Beach Press report with details about Amendment 4. –Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire [email protected]
Human Rights Defense Center: We Oppose Amendment 4!
This November, Florida citizens will be voting on a very important ballot initiative that will impact nearly 1.5 million people in the state. The restoration of voting rights for people with prior felony convictions is long overdue—but we must ask: why are some people still being left behind? MORE:
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/media/publications/Amendment_4_short_version_9-17-18.pdf
Palm Beach Post | Jan. 24, 2018
Amendment to restore felons’ voting rights on Florida November ballot
By Dara Kam
Excerpts: More than 1.5 million Floridians now unable to participate in elections would automatically have their voting rights restored, under a proposed constitutional amendment that will go before voters in November. The “Voting Restoration Amendment,” which was approved Tuesday to appear on the ballot as Amendment 4, would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded.
The restoration of felons’ rights has long been controversial in Florida, with critics of the state’s process comparing it to post-Civil War Jim Crow policies designed to keep blacks from casting ballots. Black state legislators have tried repeatedly to change state law to allow the automatic restoration of rights. But the Republican-dominated Legislature either quashed or ignored the efforts. The change would apply to people who complete their sentences in the future as well an estimated 1.5 million Floridians, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, which helped get the Florida initiative on the ballot. MORE:
The. last time I checked I was a citizen of the United States of America and as such should have the right to vote as a citizen of the U.S.A no matter what crime was committed with the exception of the crimes of terrorism or against the U.S.
I don’t think its about both murderers and sexual offenders, but just sexual offenders. Most murderers won’t even be able to be in public to vote due to their sentencing lengths – unless they can vote in prison.
I think it’s all about sexual offenses. They just tacked on the murderers next to the sexual offenders to bypass anything that would look or smell discriminatory and it is failing miserably on that notion.
Yup, when I was on probation that I had to report to my officer on a monthly basis there were many people there reporting from all walks of life with different charges. Mostly fraud, robbery, burglary, and lots of people with drug convictions… and then of course some violent crimes like assault, battery and such. In my years there reporting I only saw 1 with a murder conviction who after a 45 year sentence he was granted parole. We all looked at him like if he were a rare species.
The attitude is similar to a legislative proposal up here in Michigan to restore good time credits in prison, thus reducing long sentences a little. Before they would vote on it, they felt that they had to add a clause to it that excluded sex offenders from good time. Yet, convicted sex offenders are already getting very long sentences and are passed over by the parole board at much higher rates than other inmates. In the end, even the watered down version didn’t pass, because the politicians don’t want to appear to be soft on crime. It is hard to believe that convicted sex offenders aren’t recognized as a protected class against discrimination, when the evidence of rampant discrimination is right out in the open.
HRDC is very impressive and loved their message.
I think Amendment 4 should be voted against. Either they get it right and include ALL felons, or don’t even bother. If it passes, then the voting rights of people convicted of murder and sexual offenses would be swept under the rug for a very long time. It is simply discrimination and bigotry as the post mentions.
The reality is, Amendment 4 is a constitutional amendment. To change that further would require another amendment to the Florida Constitution that would expressly INCLUDE sex offenders and murderers. That’s never going to happen.
What this ballot measure will do is discard our population permanently. We will be circulating a press release and Call to Action shortly.
” What this ballot measure will do is discard our population permanently. ”
and that right there is scary enough. Thank you for being on top of this FAC. Also to HRDC
If you don’t think that an amendment expressly including sex offenders and murderers can ever happen, what would suggest the people who put forth this amendment do? You admit that it wouldn’t pass if everyone was included. We have already been discarded. The legislature holds out no hope for change. At least this would get some ex-felons back on the voters’ rolls, and they could help elect some common sense legislators and governors. It would also be something that opens up more possible challenges in federal courts as a violation of equal protection under the law rights. It would be a start. You can’t fight the politicians the way things stand right now, so you need to find a way to change the politicians. Bringing other disenfranchised people into the voting booth could help.
Who admitted that it would not pass if everyone was included?
Those putting forth this amendment should advocate for an Amendment that does not discriminate.
We are not telling people how to vote – we are telling people to vote their conscience. If you want to support it – we support your first amendment right to promote it.
YOU did in your earlier post: “To change that further would require another amendment to the Florida Constitution that would expressly INCLUDE sex offenders and murderers. That’s never going to happen.” The reason they placed this on the ballot was because legislators are NOT going to act to restore ANY ex-felon’s voting rights. It would have done no good to include sex offenders if it would destroy any chance of its passing. At least it would add SOME ex-felons to the rolls, and give them a chance to vote the “bums” out. You live in Florida. You know what the political ads would look like if sex offenders were included. Disenfranchisement is a national issue. A change in one state’s constitution isn’t going to stop the national fight. In fact, the exclusion of sex offenders would add fuel to the bigger, national discussion of mistreatment of registered sex offenders. Would it be better if they hadn’t tried at all? Change has to start somewhere, but it doesn’t have to end there. Can FAC come up with a constitutional amendment proposal including sex offenders that would actually pass in Florida? They took action to try to help some disenfranchised people, and pursued the only realistic possibility. What else do you think they could have done?
Discrimination is certainly alive and well in the land of the free. I guess they figure that if they don’t view you as human, you aren’t entitled to human rights. Thank you for your good work.
If they choose to “Exclude Sex Offenders and Murderers” then “Sex Offenders and Murderers” shouldn’t be Required to pay TAXES !!. Florida is SO SCREWED UP !! I believe that the only way to “Fix Florida” is to WIPE OUT THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AND START COMPLETELY OVER !!. Even if that requires starting another Revolutionary War !!.
this is confusing. Do we (our families) vote FOR or AGAINST Amendment 4?
If we vote for it, it will exclude sexoffenders, but I think it would leave the door open for a lawsuit or some legal thing…….
If we vote against it, no one will get any voting rights back, therefore sealing the corrupt governmental vote.
Any suggestions??
Vote no… there will never be a legal challenge to the exact wording that the people voted on. Remember in Florida it needs 60% to pass.
Vote NO… it’s all of us or none of us.
Debbie, I totally agree with you. The military taught me to leave no man (or woman) behind!