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Politics cloud felon voting rights restoration in Florida
Reuters ^ | December 15, 2018 | Letitia Stein

Posted on 12/15/2018 7:18:06 AM PST by deport

Elections officials across Florida say they expect former felons to flock to their offices to register to vote next month
when a newly passed ballot initiative launches one of the largest enfranchisement efforts in modern U.S. history.

But partisan politics and logistical questions are clouding the Jan. 8 rollout of a state constitutional amendment
that could restore voting rights to more than 1 million ex-felons in Florida.

Democrats and voting rights advocates cried foul this week when Governor-elect Ron DeSantis, a Republican and
critic of the measure known as Amendment 4, said the Republican-controlled state legislature must first pass a law
to implement its changes.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
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1 posted on 12/15/2018 7:18:06 AM PST by deport
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To: deport

Who the heck wants felons to vote?


2 posted on 12/15/2018 7:19:10 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

“Who the heck wants felons to vote?”

Dems do. And, will make it easy for them by harvesting their votes.

I don’t think most felons think much about politics, but those that do will probably go 80% Dem. Their past performance doesn’t mark them as “law and order” voters.


3 posted on 12/15/2018 7:20:47 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: BenLurkin

“Who the heck wants felons to vote?”
Democrats always welcome like-minded people.
And felons fit right in with the Clintons/Dorkbamas/MSM/activist judges, and California.


4 posted on 12/15/2018 7:22:17 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: deport

Do recidivists lose their vote upon conviction when they re-offend (which is highly probable)? Just how does that work anyway?


5 posted on 12/15/2018 7:24:28 AM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: deport

This is an issue that does not bother me. First, most felons won’t bother to vote. They will be too busy committing new felonies. For a drug dealer, it really does not matter who is in charge. They carry on as usual.

Second, if someone has paid his debt to society, then why should he (or she) be punished further? Some felons do reform, so they should be accorded the same rights as other citizens.


6 posted on 12/15/2018 7:24:30 AM PST by Pining_4_TX ("Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." ~ H.L. Mencken)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Second, if someone has paid his debt to society, then why
should he (or she) be punished further?

**************

That is the central question about the proposal. Which
rights are restored after certain felonies.


7 posted on 12/15/2018 7:28:55 AM PST by deport
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To: deport

Let’s say a released felon has paid ALL of his debts to society. He has completed his parole successfully, and he has paid all of his fines. Then I don’t see why his rights should not be restored.

It’s up to each state. But seems a bit harsh that a citizen who committed a felony say 20 years ago cannot vote or exercise his 2A rights.

Yeah, I know that guy shouldn’t have committed that felony in the first place. But he has already paid for that.


8 posted on 12/15/2018 7:35:58 AM PST by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: deport

They won’t vote. The Demorats just want more ballots to harvest.


9 posted on 12/15/2018 7:39:09 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Democracy dies when Democrats refuse to accept the result of a democratic election they didn't win.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

This is an issue that does not bother me.”

And third - in Florida it matters more who counts the votes more that who actually won.


10 posted on 12/15/2018 7:41:34 AM PST by Dennis M.
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To: deport

Illegal immigration and sanctuary cities threaten the rule of law.


11 posted on 12/15/2018 7:42:33 AM PST by Spok
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Felons have demonstrated that they have zero problems trampling other peoples rights for fun and profit with little to no remorse.

That fits the core democrat constituency like a glove


12 posted on 12/15/2018 7:54:59 AM PST by dsrtsage (For Leftists, World History starts every day at breakfast)
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To: Leaning Right

Losing the right to vote was part of the prescribed punishment for the crimes they committed. It is no different than if a felon was sentenced to life in prison and then all prisoners were arbitrarily released one day because someone decided that they had paid all of their debts to society.


13 posted on 12/15/2018 8:04:55 AM PST by Bubba_Leroy (The Obamanation has ended!)
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To: Pining_4_TX

It isn’t about them voting. It is about REGISTERING to vote. Then, when they don’t use their vote, the Dems will have SOMEONE ELSE cast that felon’s registration.

This is why every even of any sort will have a D Party Voter Registratration table.


14 posted on 12/15/2018 8:10:18 AM PST by reformedliberal
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To: reformedliberal

even=event


15 posted on 12/15/2018 8:11:27 AM PST by reformedliberal
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To: Pining_4_TX
...Second, if someone has paid his debt to society, then why should he (or she) be punished further? Some felons do reform, so they should be accorded the same rights as other citizens...

Since part of the penalty for criminal behavior was permanent loss of voting rights, this part of the "debt to society" had not yet been paid.

You are falling into the liberal trap that proclaims completing a prison term pays the "debt to society" in full. Even if we eliminate the old loss of voting rights penalty, in many instances, a sentence will include both a prison term and restitution for the economic damage caused by criminal behavior. Hopefully, the Florida legislature will demand that monetary restitution must be completely paid before voting rights are restored.

I sincerely hope that the legislature fulfills their responsibility here and looks at the restitution part of the criminal sentence. Possibly even increasing restitution mandatory sentencing to include repayment of all economic loss from criminal acts, and damages for pain and suffering.

16 posted on 12/15/2018 8:13:45 AM PST by CurlyDave
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To: Pining_4_TX

“Second, if someone has paid his debt to society, then why should he (or she) be punished further?”

Standard Leftist line, sad that enough people on our side buy into it too - which is why it passed last November.

The bottom line is that permanently losing one’s right to vote was PART OF THE PUNISHMENT when the crime was committed. If you want to vote, then don’t be a felon - it was very simple.


17 posted on 12/15/2018 8:16:07 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't tell anyone.)
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To: deport

See ya Fla. Blue Florida will make it virtually impossible for a Republican to win the Presidency again. Felon,illegal/legal immigrant and mail-in (harvested) votes will destroy the Republic. Angry women and various other idiots will seal the deal. The recipe is set for 2020.


18 posted on 12/15/2018 8:31:49 AM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: shanover

See ya Fla. Blue Florida will make it virtually impossible for a Republican to win the Presidency again. Felon,illegal/legal immigrant and mail-in (harvested) votes will destroy the Republic. Angry women and various other idiots will seal the deal. The recipe is set for 2020.


That’s the plan.

Ironic that felons will help steal the next election.


19 posted on 12/15/2018 8:46:31 AM PST by AFret.
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To: BenLurkin

Dems do. Should have seen the ads here in FL. They were well done. Used alot of Christianeez language as I call it to get Repubs to vote for it and many did. We voted No, but it passed.


20 posted on 12/15/2018 8:59:00 AM PST by greyline90
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