VOTING RIGHTS

During a news conference Monday, Rep. Maxwell Frost announced the Voting Overseas Treated Equally for Servicemembers (VOTES) Act.

Florida state Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) sought to “call out” Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday in a news conference regarding the arrests of 20 individuals on election fraud charges.

Voting: It’s one of the most American things we do every two years -- and along with it comes the peaceful transfer of power, democracy in action, and the voices of the people heard in the solemn right of civic duty.

The League of Women Voters was one of the first groups to file a lawsuit against the state of Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on new district maps in April.

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.

She said every election year is a sad reminder of the sacrifices made by her great uncle, Julius July Perry. “He did everything right to educate people to get out and vote,” said Mcwhite. Meanwhile, the Orange County NAACP has been also pushing black people especially to vote. “If it’s no more than just an act of symbolism, vote for the sacrifices that were made,” said Beveryle Neal. President Neal said she protested and fought as a girl for the right for blacks to be able to vote.