AMENDMENT 4

Video: Convicted felons in Florida want statewide database to determine voting eligibility This comes after several former convicted felons were charged or arrested after registering to vote. (WFTV)ORLANDO, Fla. — A Central Florida group, run primarily by former convicted felons, wants a statewide database to determine voting eligibility. DeSantis signs bill creating election police unitThis comes after several former convicted felons were charged or arrested after registering to vote. The executive director of Florida Rights Restoration Coalition said the state’s voter system for former convicted felons is confusing. Photos: Convicted felons in Florida want statewide database to determine voting eligibilityExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Convicted felons in Florida want statewide database to determine voting eligibility“As any American citizen, returning citizens have paid their debt and moved on with their lives, and they have a right to participate and have a say in how are democracy is ran, and they should not be scared into doing so,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the FRRC.

The man who spearheaded a movement that resulted in convicted felons getting their right to vote returned in Florida is demanding better record keeping from state officials.

In Florida, people who owe fines connected to their felonies cannot vote until they are paid up.

“Those who have had their voting rights restored under Amendment 4, it makes sense to also restore the other civil rights,” DeSantis said. Since taking office in 2019, Fried has pushed DeSantis and other clemency board members to make it easier for felons to have their rights restored. Wednesday’s action reversed five- and seven-year waiting periods imposed by the clemency board when it was made up of former Gov. Florida’s labyrinthine and lengthy clemency process has been assailed for decades as a system designed to keep Black people from voting. Under the old rules, restitution had to be paid in full before felons could apply to have their rights restored.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s proposed Amendment 4, which aimed to require a second vote for amendments to the state constitution, has failed. Currently, a constitutional amendment requires a 60% vote to become effective, anything less means the amendment is rejected, but under Amendment 4 it would extend the process to another round of voting. “Essentially, an amendment approved by Florida voters would not count unless it passed a second time in the next election. A “yes” vote supports requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election to become effective. A “no” vote opposes requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election to become effective.

With nearly 50,000 Palm Coast votes counted Holland had defeated Lowe, 53 to 47 percent, a decisive enough win to erase doubt about the results. She was there with one of her principal champions, Gail Wadsworth, the former, long-time Flagler County Clerk of Court, who was Holland’s front-line campaign right hand. To me, Palm Coast is 90 percent of Flagler County, and we have great leadership.” Wadsworth included Klufas in that sentiment. Early Wednesday morning, Lowe issued a gracious congratulatory statement to Holland: “Congratulations Milissa Holland on retaining your seat as Mayor of Palm Coast. In the presidential race, Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Flagler County, 60 to 39, a better showing by two points than his 58 percent win in 2016.

In response, more than a dozen former felons and voting rights groups sued Gov. Florida Rights Restoration Coalition raised $27 million to pay off fines and fees for more than 40,000 returning citizens statewide by the Presidential Election. The FRRC led the 2018 ballot initiative to restore voting rights to ex-felons. Prior to the amendment the only way former felons would have their voting rights restored in Florida was to wait at least five years before asking the Florida Clemency Board to restore their voting rights. This amendment would automatically restore voting rights to non-violent offenders if they completed their parole and probation periods.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Under Amendment 4, Florida voters will decide this November whether constitutional amendments such as Amendment 4 should receive two general election votes before becoming part of the state constitution. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]Currently, a constitutional amendment requires a 60% vote to become effective, anything less means the amendment is rejected, but under Amendment 4 it would extend the process to another round of voting. “Essentially, an amendment approved by Florida voters would not count unless it passed a second time in the next election. A “yes” vote supports requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election to become effective. A “no” vote opposes requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election to become effective.

FILE - In this July 26, 2020, file photo, mourners gathered at the Alabama Capitol following the death of Rep. John Lewis. Alabama voters will decide whether to remove racist, segregation-era language from the state's 1901 Constitution in the upcoming election. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett, File)BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama voters once again have the chance to remove the racist language of Jim Crow from the state's constitution, which was approved in 1901 to enshrine white supremacy as state law. Voters in neighboring Mississippi will decide on a replacement for the Confederate-themed state flag, and Rhode Island voters will decide whether to remove a reference to plantations from the state's official name. Two decades ago, Alabama voters voted to repeal an unenforceable section of the constitution that made it illegal for Black and white people to marry.

Florida's Amendment 4, The Wall, Sir David How many of Florida's felons will be able to vote in the swing state? Then, engineers say a private section of the border wall will eventually fail. And, Sir David Attenborough: The 60 Minutes Interview

Desmond Meade: Voting is "sacred" The civil rights activist explains why fighting for Florida's Amendment 4 strengthened his respect for voting and why he brings "the spirit of my ancestors into that voting booth."

Desmond Meade: Florida disenfranchised more people than the population of over ten states and U.S. territories, and over 40 countries in the world. The amendment passed in 2018 with nearly 2/3 of the Florida vote. And so, out of nearly 1.5 million felons who regained the right to vote, 774,000 lost the right because of debt. Pastor Tyson sued Florida to get his right to vote back, after trying, in vain, to figure out how much he owed. But for now, even though Amendment 4 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, most felons in Florida won't get to vote in November.

Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the 2019 law.Gov. “This is a system that was designed to fail and as a way to suppress the vote in the 2020 elections and beyond, and it has worked. “A lot of people have been disappointed, but lawyers have stepped up. They said they hadn’t taken action to alert local elections officials to remove the flagged voters from the rolls, however.Volz —- whose group is also engaged in voter-registration activities —- acknowledged that he’d like to see more felons participating in the upcoming presidential election. Jason Pizzo, a North Miami Beach Democrat, helped craft a provision in the 2019 law that allows judges to alter financial penalties included in sentences.

DeSantis and Patronis on Wednesday blocked Meade’s request for a pardon, with DeSantis saying the panel should take the issue “under advisement” until it can gather more information. The state’s labyrinthine and years-long clemency process prompted Meade and other advocates to initiate the constitutional amendment, which enabled Meade to cast a ballot in last month’s primary elections. Meade said his focus is on getting his rights restored in Florida, as a pardon would restore rights such as being able to serve on juries and have firearms. Critics have condemned the state’s clemency process as a remnant of Jim Crow-era laws designed to keep Black people from voting. The number is a stark contrast to more than 155,000 felons who had their rights restored under an “automatic” process initiated by Scott’s predecessor, former Gov.

As of August, the clemency board had a backlog of more than 24,000 cases, according to Fried’s office.“It is very arbitrary. About 800 applications for restoration of rights without hearings, which have the support of Fried and Patronis are awaiting action by DeSantis, according to Fried’s office. No restoration of rights without a hearing have been granted thus far, her office said.In comparison, former Gov. The number is a stark contrast to more than 155,000 felons who had their rights restored under an “automatic” process initiated by Scott’s predecessor, former Gov. If that can’t allow you to serve on a jury in Florida, then there is something wrong and we should fix the system,” he said.

The former Democratic presidential candidate has helped raise more than $20 million so that felons who completed their prison sentences can vote in the presidential election. Bloomberg also has pledged $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida. Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it,” Bloomberg said in a written statement. The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. ____This version corrects the name of the group to Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

The former Democratic presidential candidate has helped raise more than $20 million so that felons who completed their prison sentences can vote in the presidential election. Bloomberg also has pledged $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida. Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it,” Bloomberg said in a written statement. The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. ____This version corrects the name of the group to Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

That ruling reverses a lower court judge’s decision that gave Florida felons the right to vote regardless of outstanding financial obligations. Members of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition said that could have a huge impact on the upcoming election. The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition is an organization that helps people with convictions transition back into society. The organization started a fund to help ex-felons pay their court fees so they can register to vote. Johnson said FRRC has already raised and help pay out more than $3 million in fines to help ex-felons in Florida.

Todays ruling by U.S District Judge Robert Hinkle finally clears up an argument that should not have taken place,'' the Florida League of Women Voters said in a statement. The voters were clear in 2018 when more than 64% of the electorate voted in favor of Amendment 4, which restored the constitutional right to vote to ex-felons not convicted of murder and felony sexual assault. But after the passage of Amendment 4, the Florida Legislature, via SB 7066, sought to ensure that ex-felons, without the means to pay back all financial obligations, would essentially endure a lifetime ban on voting.

TALLAHASSEE Elections experts, civil-rights leaders and potential voters spent the week excoriating a state law requiring felons to pay court-ordered "legal financial obligations" to be eligible to vote. Ron DeSantis administration turned to a man who garnered international acclaim for his advocacy of a 2018 constitutional amendment designed to restore felons voting rights. The 2018 constitutional amendment restored voting rights to felons "who have completed all terms of their sentence, including parole and probation." DeSantis administration insists that the state law faithfully carries out the language of the amendment. Meades January testimony is a brighter view of the state law than his immediate reaction to the measures passage on May 3, 2018, when he called the legislation "disheartening and disappointing."

click to enlarge Photo by Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia CommonsWarning that allowing plaintiffs to vote would inflict irreparable harm upon the state, lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis administration asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to block felons from casting ballots until the court resolves a legal battle.The 11th U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled in October that it is unconstitutional to deny the right to vote to felons who are genuinely unable to pay financial obligations. Hinkle agreed to place a stay on that part of his decision until the Atlanta-based appeals court rules or until Feb. 11, depending on which came first.Feb. 11 came Tuesday without a decision by the appeals court.

He and GOP lawmakers say that to regain the right to vote, felons must not only serve their time but also pay all fines and other legal financial obligations. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday could be consequential because of the razor-thin margins that sometimes decide election contests in Florida — a perennial battleground state. Voting rights groups immediately sued for a temporary injunction that would let felons continue registering to vote and cast ballots until the merits of the law can be fully adjudicated. He agreed with voter rights advocates that imposing the debt requirement on impoverished felons amounted to a poll tax. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court issued a non-binding advisory opinion agreeing with the Republican governor.

Ron DeSantis, argue that only felons who have completed all conditions of their sentences should be allowed to vote. He and GOP lawmakers say that to regain the right to vote, felons must not only serve their time but also pay all fines and other legal financial obligations. Circuit Court of Appeals could be consequential because of the razor-thin margins that sometimes decide election contests in Florida a perennial battleground state. Voting rights groups immediately sued and asked for a temporary injunction that would let felons continue registering to vote and cast ballots until the merits of the law can be fully adjudicated. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court issued a non-binding advisory opinion agreeing with the Republican governor.

The Florida Supreme Court sides with Gov. The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature on Thursday in a wide-ranging battle over restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions. Amendment 4 advocates downplayed the state Supreme Court opinion Thursday, saying it will have little effect on a federal court which has set a challenge to the law for trial in April. But Hinkle has ruled that elections supervisors should continue to register as voters felons with outstanding court debt, although he did block them from casting any ballots until the 11th U.S.

The Florida Supreme Court sides with Gov. The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature on Thursday in a wide-ranging battle over restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions. Amendment 4 advocates downplayed the state Supreme Court opinion Thursday, saying it will have little effect on a federal court which has set a challenge to the law for trial in April. But Hinkle has ruled that elections supervisors should continue to register as voters felons with outstanding court debt, although he did block them from casting any ballots until the 11th U.S.

The Florida Supreme Court sides with Gov. The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature on Thursday in a wide-ranging battle over restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions. Amendment 4 advocates downplayed the state Supreme Court opinion Thursday, saying it will have little effect on a federal court which has set a challenge to the law for trial in April. But Hinkle has ruled that elections supervisors should continue to register as voters felons with outstanding court debt, although he did block them from casting any ballots until the 11th U.S.

And requiring voters to pay off fines and fees to exercise that right is a modern-day poll tax. It's a right, said Clinton in a tweet on Friday afternoon. The state court was not asked to, and did not, determine when all terms of sentence are complete, said the statement. The Florida Legislature cannot ignore U.S. constitutional protections when interpreting when a sentence is completed for the purpose of restoring voting rights. The courts ruling also continues to leave plenty of room for the Florida Legislature to correct SB7066 and allow people who are unable to pay their obligations to vote.

Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature Thursday in a wide-ranging battle over restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions. The U.S. Constitution also prohibits making voting rights contingent on the payment of taxes, and it requires Florida to provide due process to citizens before taking their voting rights away, they added. But justices said voters who supported Amendment 4 likely assumed it meant that these costs would be paid. The five justices taking part in the ruling agreed that all terms of sentence include legal financial obligations. But Hinkle has ruled that elections supervisors should continue to register as voters felons with outstanding court debt, although he did block them from casting any ballots until the 11th U.S.

Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday that a state law requiring payment of legal financial obligations properly carried out a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday that a state law requiring payment of legal financial obligations properly carried out a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. Lawmakers finally settled on a measure requiring felons to pay legal financial obligations, such as restitution, fines and fees, to be eligible to have voting rights restored. Thursdays Florida Supreme Court opinion siding with the governor, widely expected by court watchers, came as the 11th U.S. In other words, the sponsor intended that all terms refer to obligations, not durational periods, the opinion reads.

click to enlarge Photo via Adobe Stockclick to enlarge Photo by Desmond Meade/TwitterDesmond Meade, a leader of the campaign for rights restoration, with activists in November 2019Siding with Gov. District Judge Robert Hinkle in October ruled that Florida cannot deny the right to vote to felons who have served their sentences but are genuinely unable to pay legal financial obligations. DeSantis administration has appealed that ruling.Thursdays Florida Supreme Court opinion siding with the governor, widely expected by court watchers, came as the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prepares to hear arguments Jan. 28 in the separate federal lawsuit.The state court rejected arguments by some proponents of the measure that all terms of sentence refers only to periods of confinement in jail or prison. I dissent to the majoritys position that the phrase all terms of sentence is unambiguous and that the voters would most likely understand it to include all LFOs without more.

Florida's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that a law requiring convicted felons to pay off any fines or fees related to their sentence before being able to vote is fair. DeSantis then requested an advisory opinion from the high court over the issue but did not ask them to determine its constitutionality. I am pleased that @FLCourts confirms that Amendment 4 requires fines, fees & restitution be paid to victims before their voting rights may be restored. Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 16, 2020Voting rights advocates have denounced the court's opinion. It remains unclear how the court's opinion will affect felons waiting to register to vote.

The Florida Supreme Court sides with Gov. TALLAHASSEE The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature Thursday in a wide-ranging battle over restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions. Amendment 4 advocates downplayed the state Supreme Court opinion Thursday, saying it will have little effect on a federal court which has set a challenge to the law for trial in April. But justices said voters who supported Amendment 4 likely assumed it meant that these costs would be paid.

Florida state senator Jeff Brandes wants to get rid of check boxes on statewide voter application form that identify voters as ex-felons. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is starting the conversation on Amendment 4 reforms with a bill that gets rid of controversial language on the statewide voter application form that identifies returning felons whose rights were restored. It covers all the basis in a succinct manner," Earley said of Brandes' bill. It also doesn't set people apart by their felon status or how they got their voting rights reinstated, he said. Earley said most of those changes are technical in nature and to help conform to previous changes to state law.

Florida state senator Jeff Brandes wants to get rid of check boxes on statewide voter application form that identify voters as ex-felons. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is starting the conversation on Amendment 4 reforms with a bill that gets rid of controversial language on the statewide voter application form that identifies returning felons whose rights were restored. It covers all the basis in a succinct manner," Earley said of Brandes' bill. It also doesn't set people apart by their felon status or how they got their voting rights reinstated, he said. Earley said most of those changes are technical in nature and to help conform to previous changes to state law.

Florida state senator Jeff Brandes wants to get rid of check boxes on statewide voter application form that identify voters as ex-felons. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is starting the conversation on Amendment 4 reforms with a bill that gets rid of controversial language on the statewide voter application form that identifies returning felons whose rights were restored. It covers all the basis in a succinct manner," Earley said of Brandes' bill. It also doesn't set people apart by their felon status or how they got their voting rights reinstated, he said. Earley said most of those changes are technical in nature and to help conform to previous changes to state law.

A 33-year-old drug offense may scuttle Tyrone Olivers ability to serve on the Ocala City Council. That decades-old episode is under scrutiny as the councilman-elects past raised questions over his qualification to occupy the District 2 council seat. Further, the Ocala city charter only requires potential council members to live in the city and hold voter eligibility. The city issued a press release on Wednesday stating the matter will be addressed at the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday. The city charter does not mandate background checks for City Council candidates.

Stephen Maturen/Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It's now up to a federal judge to determine whether he should temporarily set aside a Florida law barring some released felons from voting. With hearings over Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle must now decide if Florida lawmakers could stipulate that former felons must first settle all fines and other financial obligations to regain their eligibility to vote. But he also wondered if the state's clemency board could grant waivers to felons seeking access to the ballot box under Amendment 4, which returned voting rights to about 1.4 million former felons who have completed their sentences. Hinkle urged voter rights advocates and Florida officials to "roll up their sleeves" to resolve disputes over an "administrative nightmare" for former felons. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

Voting rights organizations say the financial requirement is unconstitutional and would continue to keep most felons off the voter rolls. But the governor and Republican lawmakers who pushed the legislation defend it as simply meeting the intent of Florida voters who approved Amendment 4 last November to restore felons voting rights. At best, Republican leaders say any challenge to the new voting law should be settled in state court. Now that felons voting rights are in the state constitution, I really thought wed see more action in clemency, she said. But this is very frustrating.The Florida Rights Restoration, which spearheaded last falls ballot campaign, is trying to get many returning citizens as theyve been dubbed, back on the voter rolls.

TALLAHASSEE Voting rights organizations urged a federal judge Monday to throw out a new Florida law which allows felons to regain their voting rights only after paying court-ordered fines, fees and restitution barriers which could keep most of the states 1.4 million disenfranchised residents from casting ballots. Records are even harder to obtain stretching back decades, or when a felon seeking to regain voting rights is living in one county and has to obtain information from another county or out-of-state about a debt owed. Several dozen demonstrators carrying signs reading The debt was paid, and End wealth-based barriers to voting said they will continue to fight for felons voting rights. These groups argue the new law violates equal protection and due process provisions of the U.S. Constitution. In his testimony, however, Smith, the UF political scientist, said there was no indication that felons regaining their voting rights tend to register as Democrats.

A federal judge is considering whether Florida lawmakers exceeded their authority by requiring former felons to pay fines and settle other legal debts as a condition of regaining their right to vote. Ron DeSantis stipulating that felons must pay all fines, restitution and other financial obligations to complete their sentences. They argued the stipulation did no irrevocable harm to felons seeking the right to vote. But U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle told them that denying a person the right to vote automatically leads to irreparable harm. The governor's spokeswoman, Helen Ferre, asserted there was no irreparable harm because the felons previously did not have the right to vote.

Voting rights organizations say the financial requirement is unconstitutional and would continue to keep most felons off the voter rolls. But the governor and Republican lawmakers who pushed the legislation defend it as simply meeting the intent of Florida voters who approved Amendment 4 last November to restore felons voting rights. At best, Republican leaders say any challenge to the new voting law should be settled in state court. Now that felons voting rights are in the state constitution, I really thought wed see more action in clemency, she said. But this is very frustrating.The Florida Rights Restoration, which spearheaded last falls ballot campaign, is trying to get many returning citizens as theyve been dubbed, back on the voter rolls.

Voting-rights advocates and elections-rights groups have challenged the law in court, arguing it imposes restrictions not envisioned in the constitutional amendment. Siding with plaintiffs last year, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found the states voting-restoration process violated First Amendment rights and 14th Amendment equal-protection rights of felons. But siding with the state clemency board, the Atlanta-based federal appeals court blocked Walkers order from going into effect while the case remained pending. The outcome of the legal battles over the new state law wont have an effect on the plaintiffs, because all plaintiffs are eligible to vote now, Sherman argued. The drawn-out clemency process was the primary reason behind the push for the constitutional amendment, which received support from more than 64 percent of Florida voters last fall.

Siding with plaintiffs last year, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found the states voting-restoration process violated First Amendment rights and 14th Amendment equal-protection rights of felons. But siding with the state clemency board, the Atlanta-based federal appeals court blocked Walkers order from going into effect while the case remained pending. Because it now appears that all plaintiffs have satisfied any outstanding legal financial obligations, they have regained their right to vote, and their challenge to the executive clemency procedure is now moot, the states lawyers argued. According to the Florida Commission on Offender Review, which handles applications for clemency, the agency currently has a backlog of more than 10,600 cases. The drawn-out clemency process was the primary reason behind the push for the constitutional amendment, which received support from more than 64 percent of Florida voters last fall.

Voting-rights advocates and elections-rights groups have challenged the law in court, arguing it imposes restrictions not envisioned in the constitutional amendment. Siding with plaintiffs last year, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found the states voting-restoration process violated First Amendment rights and 14th Amendment equal-protection rights of felons. But siding with the state clemency board, the Atlanta-based federal appeals court blocked Walkers order from going into effect while the case remained pending. The outcome of the legal battles over the new state law wont have an effect on the plaintiffs, because all plaintiffs are eligible to vote now, Sherman argued. The drawn-out clemency process was the primary reason behind the push for the constitutional amendment, which received support from more than 64 percent of Florida voters last fall.

By Robert P. AlvarezThe poll tax Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just signed into law may cost his state $365 million a year indefinitely. States with permanent felony disenfranchisement experience significantly higher recidivism rates than states with more lenient re-enfranchisement processes. As it turns out, allowing returned citizens to participate fully in society and in democracy reduces their likelihood of reoffending and saves money. An additional major boon for Florida would have been the increased earning power of returned citizens. The economic impacts from both the reduced administrative costs and increased income of returned citizens, says WEG, would filter throughout Floridas economy, yielding $365 million in total benefits.

Lenhart to discuss Amendment 4Katie Lenhart, Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, will discuss election issues, including implementation of Amendment Four, which allows felons who have completed their sentences to vote, at the next meeting of the Democratic Women's Club of Flagler County, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 N. U.S. 1, Palm Coast. For information, call 386-283-4883. Send news of upcoming public political events in Flagler County at least two weeks in advance of the event to news-tribune@news-jrnl.com

click to enlarge Photo by Cali4beach via FlickrChief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker held an initial telephone hearing Friday in what could be a drawn-out legal battle over a portion of the new elections law aimed at carrying out what appeared on the November ballot as Amendment 4.The amendment was designed to restore voting rights for felons who have completed terms of their sentences. But under the elections package signed by DeSantis, felons will have to pay financial obligations related to their crimes before they are eligible to vote.Lawyers for civil-rights groups, voting-rights advocates, and people convicted of felonies allege the legislation unconstitutionally creates two classes of citizens, depending on their ability to pay financial obligations that many felons dont even know about.Florida has a long, troubling history with voter suppression tactics, many explicitly motivated by racial discrimination including the very felony disenfranchisement provision revised by Amendment 4, said attorneys representing those challenging the new elections law.The law, which went into effect Monday, is a throwback to Jim Crow-era policies aimed at preventing black Floridians from voting, argued lawyers for the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.The amendment, approved by more than 64 percent of Florida voters in November, granted restoration of voting rights to felons who have completed all terms of their sentence, including parole or probation. The amendment excluded people convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense.The meaning of all terms of sentence became a flashpoint during this springs legislative session, sparking an emotionally charged divide over whether the amendment required payment of court-ordered fees, fines and restitution when the financial obligations are part of a sentence, as is almost always the case.The new law, meanwhile, appears to have resolved a separate lawsuit about ballot signatures that dont match those on file with elections offices. Both sides in the case this week asked Walker to toss the lawsuit, filed in November by former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons campaign and state and national Democrats.Attorneys say the new law fixes the disputed issues by establishing a uniform process for canvassing boards to compare signatures and by extending deadlines for voters to cure ballots. The new law also creates a way for voters who cast provisional ballots to cure signatures that dont match those on file with elections officials.

"The complaint, which names as plaintiffs the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Orange County Branch of the NAACP and several felons, also alleges the measure is unlawful "because it was motivated, at least in part, by a racially discriminatory purpose. However, I would only consider restoring rights to those convicted of non-violent offenses, the Republican governor wrote.Amendment 4 restores without regard to the wishes of the victims voting rights to violent felons, including felons convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, so long as those felons completed all terms of their sentences. State elections officials will vet the voting applications and flag people who are ineligible, as is currently the process. The worst thats going to happen is they may be taken back off the rolls. I think it serves in a big way to improve peoples access to the polls and then get their votes counted.

Ron DeSantis signed an omnibus elections bill Friday, a coalition of voting-rights and civil-rights groups announced they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states plan for carrying out a constitutional amendment designed to restore felons voting rights. Under the bill, felons will have to repay all of their financial obligations before their voting rights are restored. I am considering whether to seek restoration of all civil rights to some of those whose rights were restored by Amendment 4. Amendment 4 restores without regard to the wishes of the victims voting rights to violent felons, including felons convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, so long as those felons completed all terms of their sentences. Under the law, felons who registered to vote between Jan. 8 and July 1 but who havent fulfilled their financial obligations wont be prosecuted.

The historic effort to allow more than a million felons in Florida to vote hit a roadblock Friday when Gov. Voters in the state overwhelmingly passed an amendment in November that restored voting rights to those with felony records - as many as 1.5 million people. The result would have been the largest expansion of voting rights in the country in a half-century. DeSantis, who opposed the felon voting rights amendment, signed the legislation into law late in the day Friday, one day before his deadline to sign passed. They cannot legally affix a price tag to someone's right to vote," Julie Ebenstein, senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, said in a statement.

Ron DeSantis signed an omnibus elections bill Friday, a coalition of voting-rights and civil-rights groups announced they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's plan for carrying out a constitutional amendment designed to restore felons' voting rights. Under the bill, felons will have to repay all of their financial obligations before their voting rights are restored. I am considering whether to seek restoration of all civil rights to some of those whose rights were restored by Amendment 4. Amendment 4 restores without regard to the wishes of the victims voting rights to violent felons, including felons convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, so long as those felons completed all terms of their sentences. Under the law, felons who registered to vote between Jan. 8 and July 1 but who havent fulfilled their financial obligations wont be prosecuted.

Ron DeSantis signed an omnibus elections bill Friday, a coalition of voting-rights and civil-rights groups announced they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's plan for carrying out a constitutional amendment designed to restore felons' voting rights. Under the bill, felons will have to repay all of their financial obligations before their voting rights are restored. I am considering whether to seek restoration of all civil rights to some of those whose rights were restored by Amendment 4. Amendment 4 restores without regard to the wishes of the victims voting rights to violent felons, including felons convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, so long as those felons completed all terms of their sentences. Under the law, felons who registered to vote between Jan. 8 and July 1 but who havent fulfilled their financial obligations wont be prosecuted.

TALLAHASSEE Two of Floridas largest cities played host to sessions aimed at helping ex-felons regain their voting rights under a soon-to-be state law that also looks destined to be challenged in federal court. Its really a celebration of democracy, said Neil Volz, spokesman for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which organized the events and led the campaign that put Amendment 4 on the ballot last fall. The payment provision would prove a central part of a lawsuit expected to be filed by voting rights organizations. Still, even at the higher rate, most Florida felons will remain off the voter rolls when next years elections come around. Its very hard to figure out how many ex-felons could register, said Alex Morash, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, which is looking to register 200,000 more voters for the 2020 elections.