Florida’s Clemency Board Approves Secret Plan To Further Restrict Voting Rights

"TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Board of Executive Clemency voted today to change its rules to require Floridians with past felony convictions to endure harsh mandatory waiting periods of up to seven years before being eligible to apply to have their civil rights, including their right to vote, reinstated. The unanimously approved change of clemency rules will potentially affect more than a million voters in Florida, a state which already has a troubling history of voter disenfranchisement. The new plan stands to harm communities where people with past criminal convictions are attempting to reenter society.

The board did not make the proposal public until today’s hearing – providing copies of the 24-page plan to speakers and members of the media within minutes of the vote. The board voted unanimously to approve the plan even though some members publicly admitted they had not yet reviewed it.

...

The board’s plan returns Florida to a small group of states that permanently bar people with past criminal convictions from voting for life unless they seek and receive individual pardons from the governor. The changes approved today will delay even the application for reinstatement of rights for Floridians convicted of non-violent, first-time offenses who were eligible for “automatic” restoration of rights under reforms approved by the board in 2007. In practice, however, “automatic” restoration still took months and sometimes years.The changes approved today will delay even the application for reinstatement of rights for Floridians convicted of non-violent, first-time offenses who were eligible for “automatic” restoration of rights under reforms approved by the board in 2007. In practice, however, “automatic” restoration still took months and sometimes years."

http://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/florida-s-clemency-board-approves-secret-plan-further-restrict-voting-rights-state-tro

Very convenient. Perhaps this is because the 2012 election is coming up.

oh yah and how long befor a felony get redefined into posting something they don't like on the internet ?

if you are not seeing this as the rise of the 4th reich your not paying attention

It should be challenged in court.

in state court, using state law or state constitutional grounds.