Jon talks to Demetrius Jifunza about Amendment 4, the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative, which is on the ballot this November on Florida. Here’s an explanation of Amendment 4 via Vote Save America (votesaveamerica.com)
Listen up, Floridians. This is a big fucking deal. Before anyone goes off thinking that voting for this means you’re voting for The Purge or something, here’s a little context. After the Civil War, Florida’s legislators targeted black and poor Floridians – taking voting rights away from anyone convicted of a felony, and then passing so-called “Black Codes” to make minor crimes like loitering or vagrancy into felonies.
To this day, ten percent of all adults, including 1 in 4 black Floridians, cannot vote. And what counts as a non-violent felony also disproportionately impacts communities of color. Plus, Florida is one of only four states that won’t allow felons to vote even after they’ve served their time.
What might a non-violent felony be in Florida, you ask? Let’s say you get caught with some marijuana in Florida (you know, a legal substance in other states). You can be sent to jail for up to 5 years and lose your right to vote.
That, our dear Florida, is codswallop. Pure, unadulterated, racist bullshit. So here’s what this Amendment does: Right now, Florida requires that felons wait at least five years after their sentences are complete to apply to regain voting rights. The current process can take a decade because Governor Rick Scott (R) requires all requests to be considered by the state clemency board, which only meets four times a year.
This amendment would automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions after they’ve served their time (which includes prison, parole, and probation). Those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense would not be included.
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