New rule restores rights to 115,000 Fla. ex-felons

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - More than 115,000 former felons who completed their sentences have had their civil rights restored since a new state rule went into effect 14 months ago, Gov. Charlie Crist said.

The rule by the Board of Executive Clemency, which Crist chairs, restored rights almost automatically, ending a policy of requiring the panel to act individually on every restoration of rights request. The rights include voting and the ability to get state and local licenses for certain types of jobs.

"Once somebody has truly paid their debt to society, we should recognize it," Crist said Tuesday. "We should welcome them back into society and give them that second chance. Who doesn't deserve a second chance?"

The 115,000 former felons Crist cited account for more than half of all former felons in the state who have had their rights restored during the last 14 years, according to the governor.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/ap_on_re_us/felons_rights

[annabanana]

1. Well they had better check the voting rolls.. I have a feeling

that there's going to be a bunch of stalling on that whole "voting" paperwork thing.

[bluestateguy]

4. Provisional ballots

Although, it's important that people know their rights. I could see a lot of Republican county clerks and precinct workers not telling people that they have the right to cast a provisional ballot.

[valerief]

2. And won't it be amazing how every one of those ex-felons will be voting Republican? nt

[mcollier]

5. Not if we have our say

We must communicate to the public that individuals with criminal records can vote in this election. We need to get these people registered to vote.

[valerief]

8. This is Florida, not some imaginary state represented by the U.S. Constitution.

I have no faith in Florida politics and never will. They killed our country.

[flashl]

6. You are spot on. Florida's Repukes recently announced their GOTV drives are targeting ex-felons.

The restoration process is suspect. There are approx. four times as many ex-felons who applied and did not have their 'rights' restored. Ex-felons who 'rights' were not restored did not receive notice why their application was rejected.

[jody]

3. Not all civil rights are restored so easily. "The right to own, possess, or use firearms requires an

application and there is a waiting period of eight years from the date sentence expired or supervision terminated."

See Frequently Asked Questions #2 at https://fpc.state.fl.us/FAQClemency.htm

[floridablue]

7. Looks like the Q for absentee or early voting

[toopers]

9. Did they restore the rights to sex offenders also?

n/t