In a key ballot initiative, Florida will restore voting rights to citizens convicted of certain felonies after they have served their sentences, including prison terms, parole and probationary periods, AP has projected.
Voting rights will not be restored to those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses. Full Article
Yes, murderers and sex offenders are pretty much the same right?
If ever there was a case of discrimination this is it. How are armed robbers, drug dealers, dog fighters, and those with gun violence of a more reputable and trustworthy class that they can vote, but not people on the registry? So the registry isn’t punishment, huh?
Isnt voting a right requiring strict scrutiny, or at least elevated scrutiny where the government would both have to justify denying the right as well as justify how it doesnt violate equal protection? Its also a bill of attainder as segregating a named group for different treatment and that should elevate scrutiny.
I find it comical when they still choose to use some groups as the scapegoats when they decide to allow others. What does a conviction for a sexual crime have to do with the act of voting? Are these people still required to pay taxes, etc? If so, and they’re not under probation or parole, what’s the legitimate reason to deny them voting, other than to punish them above others for a PAST transgression?
Does anyone know if the Supremacy Clause can be used to make Florida include ALL convicted felons. Not many charged with murder get out of prison (there are some) but most RSO’s do. I would be interested to know if this can be fought in court?
I hope this gets challenged in the courts. States need to stop excluding certain crimes but give the benefit to all other crimes.
IMO, just my opinion, this could have swayed last night’s Gov election there had these folks had the ability to vote given the breakdown of who will receive the relief and have their voting rights restored.
I also see a potential challenge on this with registrants being called upon to fight for their right to vote in the sunshine state.
Same old, same old. Anything that is denied to anyone convicted of a $EX crime must be denied to anyone convicted of any significant crime. We either let the people vote or we don’t. People who don’t follow that do not deserve any rights themselves and all Americans should work to ensure that their rights are abused and denied. Let’s keep America divided. Sad. But it must be done.
Did anyone notice that in recent months, two bills were signed into law by Governor Brown, SB 10 (Pretrial Release or Detention), and SB 215 (Diversion for Mental Health Disorders) that exclude nearly every sex-related offense from the benefits offered by these bills? California isn’t far behind Florida when it comes to things of this nature.
Could this also be a Freedom of speech/expression issue. That would elevate it to the federal level.
The long and storied history of voter disenfranchisement: https://felonvoting.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000016
Uh…..according to the Holier than tho Morally upright Law Makers Every Goddam Sex Offense is a Felony.
This pisses me off to no end 😡
Zero Tolerance you say???
Judge not as you too shall be Judged Mother F@ker
Wow, voting is the bedrock of our nation, how the hell they get away with this is insane. No taxation without representation and all that. So I take it felons no longer have to pay any kind of taxes then correct? (sarcasm of course because the gov. sure as hell do not care about them being felons when they are taking their money. That is how that needs to be challenged if it has not already been. No voting for representation, no paying taxes your honor), I do not have time to get into reading everything about it but I will say again it is insane.
@The D party’s move here under Gov. Frist reign was an honest effort to re-enfranchise felons and it worked to restore voting rights to 150K felons in Florida. The democrats must think they’ll get votes by doing so, but there is no guarantee. A person resorted may vote R…right?
The certain exclusions of sex deviants and killers appears reasonable to the general public just like SOR. However the notion denies EQUAL PROTECTION to those “similarly situated” “With felony convicion.” Proof IMHO that no ‘constitution ‘ be in foundation.
I find it unreasonable for Registered persons to vote for either party.
Big data, big gov labor, and Big brother are one and the same. I’m also anticipating facial recognition use and it’s implications toward public “stops” based on false alarms of danger!
🤔 I’m confused. Why can a murderer be referred to as a “crime of passion”, when an actual passion crime – such as consensual sexual activity between a 16 year old and an 18 year old – can be referred to as a sexual assault?? So “passion” is a qualifying reason for violence – even murder, but not a reasonable explanation for sexual activity?? 🤔
Seeing how close the election is in Florida I do believe if people on the registry had been able to vote it would have went differently. Governor Scott is no friend of people on the registry. So this is definitely suppressing a particular minority group that would most likely vote n a similar manner.