Voting Rights of Convicted Felons

Today, FAC circulated an email inviting members to join our monthly member call on November 6, 2014. The topic of the meeting will be a review of the forthcoming election results, what it means for our cause and where to find contact information for the newly elected politicians.

In response to our mailing, we received several responses from registrants, who advised that as felons, they are not permitted to vote.

Over the course of the past few decades, restrictions on voting rights (and restoration of civil rights) for convicted felons has flopped back and forth from being loosened to being tightened.

Formerly, Charlie Crist loosened the requirements for convicted felons and then when current Governor Rick Scott came in he made it more difficult for felons to regain their civil rights.

There are many offenders who have had their civil right restored and are able to vote. Chances are, however, that if your conviction was in the 21st century, you are not able to vote, since current laws require that at least 5 (or 7 years for certain offenses) pass before you can apply (no, it’s not automatic) to have your civil rights restored. For Sex Offenses, it’s most likely the seven year threshold and the time period begins from the date you are released from all sanctions (including probation). In other words; if you were convicted in 2002, served five years, followed by three years probation, completed your sentence in 2010, you would be eligible to apply in 2017.

Currently, Florida has the highest rate of disenfranchisement (see: http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/164510)

That will likely change if Charlie Crist is elected.

Regardless, if you meet the requirements for restoration of civil rights (see: https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/restoration.shtml )

and you want to apply to have your rights restored, you can download the application and instructions here: https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/docs/clemency/ClemencyApplication.pdf