For Immediate Release
January 18, 2009
Contact Information
Tiffani Watts
Florida A&M University
( BPRW) Florida Restores Ex-Felon Voting Rights
( BLACK PR WIRE) ( January 18, 2009) As of April 2007, 115,000 ex-felons’ rights have been restored in Florida. Florida is one of only three states that strip all individuals with past felony convictions of their civil rights, including their fundamental right to vote, even after completion of their sentences.
“Some people get their civil rights restored and don’t even know it,” said Muslima Lewis. Lewis works for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, where she is the head of their Voting Rights Project which focuses on the overall restoration of rights. Cedric Jones, 44, said, “I was released from prison on February 5, 2007 and I received my paper from the Clemency Board in January 2008. I forgot all about being able to vote until I saw it on TV. I don’t think I’m going to register to vote but I would have if they sent me an application.”
The Florida Parole Commission’s restoration of civil rights program allows ex- offenders to get their voting rights back, serve on a jury, hold public office and obtain an occupational license. There are three levels of restoration of civil rights, depending on the severity of the offender’s crime. The clemency board determines RCR eligibility of offenders being released from the department of corrections.
Lewis said, “Florida’s law makes it so much harder for a person to get their rights back…. April 2007 did change the rights for ex-felons but there is so much more to be done; there are 950,000 ex-offenders who have been lost in the system.” The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has sent a letter to Governor Charlie Crist requesting that he direct the office of Executive Clemency to include a Florida voter registration application with the certificate of restoration of rights. These certificates are sent to individuals whose rights have been restored.
“I think it’s only fair to send an application for an ex-offender to register to vote because most offenders don’t even know that they are eligible…. It will definitely make a difference in the election this year,” said Vernicia Brown, girlfriend of Jones.
“Some people get their civil rights restored and don’t even know it,” said Muslima Lewis. Lewis works for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, where she is the head of their Voting Rights Project which focuses on the overall restoration of rights. Cedric Jones, 44, said, “I was released from prison on February 5, 2007 and I received my paper from the Clemency Board in January 2008. I forgot all about being able to vote until I saw it on TV. I don’t think I’m going to register to vote but I would have if they sent me an application.”
The Florida Parole Commission’s restoration of civil rights program allows ex- offenders to get their voting rights back, serve on a jury, hold public office and obtain an occupational license. There are three levels of restoration of civil rights, depending on the severity of the offender’s crime. The clemency board determines RCR eligibility of offenders being released from the department of corrections.
Lewis said, “Florida’s law makes it so much harder for a person to get their rights back…. April 2007 did change the rights for ex-felons but there is so much more to be done; there are 950,000 ex-offenders who have been lost in the system.” The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has sent a letter to Governor Charlie Crist requesting that he direct the office of Executive Clemency to include a Florida voter registration application with the certificate of restoration of rights. These certificates are sent to individuals whose rights have been restored.
“I think it’s only fair to send an application for an ex-offender to register to vote because most offenders don’t even know that they are eligible…. It will definitely make a difference in the election this year,” said Vernicia Brown, girlfriend of Jones.
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