Florida election officials prepare to register former felons

Source: Associated Press

Florida election officials prepare to register former felons
Gary Fineout, Associated Press
Updated 6:40 pm CST, Thursday, December 20, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Many of Florida's local election officials — who have been unable to get any clear instructions recently from the state — said they will start adding voters to the rolls in January even if they had been convicted of felony crimes.

The state's voters in November approved Amendment 4, which says most felons will automatically have their voting rights restored when they complete their sentences.

The passage of the measure, which does not apply to those convicted of sex offenses and murder, could upend elections in the battleground state where elections have been decided by razor-thin margins. As many as 1.4 million former felons could become eligible.

. . .

Melba Pearson, interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union on Florida, said that last week that "a delay would be in direct opposition of the will of Florida voters. The only responsibility Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has right now is to direct state agencies to proceed without delay to register voters consistent with state law, including Amendment 4."

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Florida-election-officials-prepare-to-register-13481664.php