Video: Ex-Offenders at Risk of Arrest for Voting
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26 thoughts on “Video: Ex-Offenders at Risk of Arrest for Voting”
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An important point comes across in this video. “Ex-offender” reads far differently than “Sex-offender” especially when it is spoken in a journalistic environment. “Persons forced to register” is unwieldy, as is “Registered citizen,” although far less destructive.
Consider when entering an identifier such as sex offender to use instead ex-offender.
What pi**es me off about these stories is that they always mention the carveout just in passing (if at all).
They always say something like, “In 2018 most ex-offenders automatically had there rights restored (except for felony sex offenders and those convicted of murder).”
They always say “felony sex offenders” to make it sound as horrible as possible, and they always say it real fast as if it is just an unimportant footnote.
In fact, though, this carveout is terribly important. Here’s why:
In 2018, a federal judge found that it was federally unconstitutional to make ex-felons endure having to appear in front of the governor of Florida and his tribunal.
That federal judge DID NOT except sex offenders or murderers. (In fact, there was no due process.)
That means that it is unconstitutional to make ANYONE go through that governor’s tribunal in order to regain their rights.
In response to this, The state of Florida enacted constitutional amendment #4 that automatically restored voting rights to ex felons. But there was a carve out. No sex offender or murderer would be able to automatically have their rights restored. They would still be required to undergo that federally UNCONSTITUTIONAL process of appearing in front of the governor and a tribunal! (And since there was no due process allowing for an exception, that makes Amendment 4 illegal on its face!) – They cannot codify a constitutional amendment that contains an illegality!
The current governor of Florida has promised and stated publicly that no sex offender would ever regain their rights as long as he was in office.
There is no intelligent reason why sex offenders or murderers cannot vote just like any other felon.
Are they somehow afraid that we will vote to legalize pornography or child abduction or serial murder?
How ridiculous!
Why, other than the fact that they simply hate us, do they not allow us to have our vote?
Amendment 4 is illegal and must be repealed!
Amendment #4 is illegal!
@ JJJJ:
The reason they don’t want registrants to vote is because the ones that propose and pass all their stupid registry laws would not get another term. The overwhelming majority of the Florida Congress (or Assembly, or whatever) would be turned over every election.
Eventually, there will be enough friends and family members of registrants to make that happen, considering the rate ot which Florida and some of its more incompetent officials (re: Lauren Book, Grady Judd, et. al.) keep senselessly adding to it.
Of all the rights I lost with my conviction in 2009 was the right to vote. I never missed voting in any election from 1975 to 2009.
I know that as an RSO I lost that right and will never be able to vote. I literally mourn losing that right.
Sex offenders should run for office to change these punishing laws!
Congratulations, Governor DeSantis. You’ve turned something as fundamental as the right to vote into the same trip wired maze as the registry. Though I’m sure that was the point. The professor in the video is right: it does have a chilling effect on turnout. And I’m sure that was the whole point.
if adjudication was withheld you can vote correct?
No Hope, this was covered several times and you asked a similar question on 8/18/2022 under another post. If you had withhold of adjudication in your case, you never lost your voting rights to begin with.
If you have any concern or hesitancy, you should contact the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections via email ([email protected]) or by mail: Room 316, R. A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250.
You can also try contacting your County Supervisor of Elections, a directory can be found here: https://www.myfloridaelections.com/Contact-your-SOE
Thank you for replying once again as far as asking the same question more than once, just like the woman in the video you can never be too careful
Agreed, and get it in writing.
I understand the concern though…the thought of being arrested for something that should never have been taken away is chilling. It’s also a bit nerve-racking because it seems like the rules change on a whim and if you don’t keep up with it you could be the next one
Also, let’s hope that the election squad knows this exception…
Yes you can, you’re not a convicted felon…..just an RSO…
I have a withhold adjudication and have been voting without any issues. Above and beyond that I also applied for my concealed weapons permit, and aside from having to submit some additional paperwork I was able to get that also.
you got the concealed permit? i had one before my charge and i wanted one again but thought it impossible. I had adjudication withheld and would like to apply for it. Did you do it through the state or did you go through a class/gun store?