Home  News National News Ex-felons may help in November elections
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Ex-felons may help in November elections |
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Written by Sonia Morgan
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Sunday, 22 June 2008 |
In an election year when there have been record turnout and voter registration, the repealing of a measure taken in the Florida Constitution more than a century ago to ban felons from voting, might add to the wave of voters who will cast their ballots in the November elections. But, more importantly the new rule allows ex-felons to now gain occupational licenses, which in the past prevented many from earning a living.
Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday announced that more than 115,000 ex-felons have had their voting and other rights restored since the new rules came into effect April 2007 – a positive sign for ex-felons and their families, who have been strained by their inability to properly function in society after their release.
The topic was a point of discussion in a political forum Tuesday night on WAVS 1170. Candidate for State Representative for District 94, Roshawn Banks, highlighted the problem of ex-offenders and their limitations in society because of this restriction and pledged to work to ensure that ex-felons’ right to vote and to get jobs that require state licenses are restored. She said if ex-felons were not allowed these rights, they will be prompted to once again turn to criminal activities to survive.
Incidentally, the voting rights ban on ex-felons, which was added to the state Constitution in 1868, was a move to suppress Black votes during Reconstruction. Though the law was amended in the late 1960’s to allow ex-felons to appeal for re-enfranchisement, it was not automatic, and dissuaded many from going through the process.
Currently, the Black population in Florida is about 14 percent, but Blacks make up 54 percent of the state’s prison population, which means that more Blacks are deprived of their rights.
However, the new rule, set by the Board of Executive Clemency, which Crist chairs, now gives almost automatic restoration of ex-felons’ rights, ending the old rules which required the group to restore rights on an individual basis. But ex-felons, depending on the severity of their crime, may still have to fill out paperwork and wait to be reinstated. If the percentage of Blacks who support Democratic presidential Nominee, Barack Obama is anything to go by, a large number of Black ex-felons should also boost his presidential bid.
The current rules judge ex-convicts on three levels, with Level 1 representing the least violent offences. Those who have served sentences and probations for Level 1 crimes since last April can have their rights reinstated without filling out paperwork.
Crist, who had supported a more lenient plan, said he was pleased with the progress and trusted that those numbers will soon increase. He said society should welcome back ex-felons as long as they have paid their debt to society.
Despite the number of ex-convicts that are now able to vote, some 80 percent or an estimated 950,000 of the state’s ex-offenders remain disenfranchised and must request reinstatement.
But, with general elections on the horizon and Florida poised to be a crucial state in deciding the elections, many are in agreement with Crist when he said the reinstatement of ex-felons’ voting rights “could make an enormous difference in November.”
Florida has in recent years been wrought by election mishaps and tensions are high leading up to what is being viewed as one of the most important elections in recent times. The state has also come under the microscope for their strict rules on voter registration. Incidentally, Florida has the largest population of the three states that take voting rights from felons.
The remaining two states that still bar prisoners from voting for life, Virginia and Kentucky, may come under pressure to repeal the ban and have ex-prisoners regain their rights.
According to statistics, roughly a third of the more than 11,000 prisoners released yearly go back into prison after three years.
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