The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 23, 2023
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Orlando Sentinel – Orlando group behind restoring felon voting rights nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
BallotPedia – Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018)
Florida Dept. of Elections – Constitutional Amendment 4/Felon Voting Rights
PBS NewsHour – Florida governor signs bill creating election police unit
Tampa Bay Times – Police cameras show confusion, anger over DeSantis’ voter fraud arrests
Democracy Now! – DeSantis Condemned For Using “Election Police” to Intimidate Florida Voters with Felony Convictions
ACLU Florida – Voting with a Criminal Record in Florida – What You Need to Know
Groups Taking Action:
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, ACLU Florida, Alliance for Safety & Justice, Live Free USA, Center for Community Change
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Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
In 2018, Florida voters passed Article 4, an initiative which restored voting rights to 1.6 million felons who had completed their sentence and parole. In the face of continued efforts by Florida’s Governor & legislature to block those rights, the Florida organization which led the initiative has been nominated for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition was nominated for its work to change Florida’s constitution and for its work following the initiative’s passage.
While Article 4 passed with over 64% support by Floridians, Florida’s governor and legislature are attempting to curb those rights by erecting additional barriers to voting. When the legislature codified Article 4, it added a requirement that all fees, financial penalties and restitution also be paid before restoration of rights. Most could not pay the fees. In response, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition helped raise $30 million to assist 40,000 people to pay their fees and regain their eligibility.
In 2022, Governor Ron Desantis created the Office of Election Crimes and Security, which, right before the Florida primary, arrested 19 formerly incarcerated felons whom it said had voted illegally. It was widely seen as an intimidation tactic to keep former felons from voting.
We have more on the nomination and the fight for the freedom to vote in Florida at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.