Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018)

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Florida Amendment 4
Flag of Florida.png
Election date
November 6, 2018
Topic
Suffrage
Status
Approveda Approved
Type
Constitutional amendment		Origin
Citizens

Florida Amendment 4, the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative, was on the ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this amendment to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation.
A "no" vote opposed this amendment to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation.
Supermajority requirement: A 60 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Amendment 4.

Aftermath

Implementing Amendment 4

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) said that Amendment 4 would require the Florida State Legislature to pass implementing legislation for the amendment before it could take effect. The Florida Legislature convened on March 5, 2019. Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner (R) said, "We need to get some direction from [the Legislature] as far as implementation and definitions — all the kind of things that the [elections] supervisors were asking. It would be inappropriate for us to charge off without direction from them."[3] Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R) said "By a lot of accounts, there's no action even required for its implementation."[4] Proponents of the measure said that the initiative's language is self-executing and did not require implementing legislation.[5] Former-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D), DeSantis' 2018 general election opponent, tweeted: "The role of the governor is to faithfully execute the laws, including #Amendment4 on January 8 — and not one day later. Justice delayed is justice denied."[6]

Senate Bill 7066

See also: Florida Senate Bill 7066 (2019)

Florida Senate Bill 7066 (SB 7066) was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on June 28, 2019. SB 7066 was designed to implement parts of Amendment 4 of 2018. Most notably, SB 7066 was designed to require convicted felons to complete "all terms of sentence" including full payment of restitution, or any fines, fees, or costs resulting from the conviction, before they could regain the right to vote. Lawsuits were filed against Senate Bill 7066, in which plaintiffs argued that requiring payment of fines and fees before being able to vote was unconstitutional.

On September 11, 2020, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state of Florida can require former felons to pay all fines and fees before regaining the right to vote. The court ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show that their constitutional rights were violated. The court wrote in its ruling, "The felons complain that it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the facts that determine eligibility to vote under Amendment 4 and Senate Bill 7066, but this complaint is only another version of the vagueness argument we have already rejected. The Due Process Clause does not require States to provide individual process to help citizens learn the facts necessary to comply with laws of general application. ... States are constitutionally entitled to set legitimate voter qualifications through laws of general application and to require voters to comply with those laws through their own efforts. So long as a State provides adequate procedures to challenge individual determinations of ineligibility—as Florida does—due process requires nothing more."[7][8]

For detailed coverage of Senate Bill 7066, the current status of the bill, and lawsuits concerning the bill, click here.

Election results

Florida Amendment 4

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

5,148,926 64.55%
No 2,828,339 35.45%
Results are officially certified.
Source

Overview

What did Amendment 4 change about voting rights of convicted felons?

Amendment 4 was designed to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation.[9] As of 2018, people with prior felonies never regain the right to vote in Florida, until and unless a state board restores an individual's voting rights. Under former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, (who was elected as a Republican, changed his affiliation to unaffiliated toward the end of his term in office, and registered as a Democrat after his time as governor) the Executive Clemency Board automatically restored the rights of felons who had completed their sentences, paid restitution, and had no pending criminal charges. Current governor Rick Scott (R) eliminated those reforms made by the Crist administration.[10] Under Scott's administration, convicted felons must wait five or seven years, depending on the type of offense, after the completion of their sentences to request that the board consider the restoration of their voting and other civil rights.[11][12]

Felon voting laws in Florida

Going into the election, Florida was one of four states where convicted felons do not regain the right to vote, until and unless a state officer or board restores an individual's voting rights. This felon voting law was part of the original Florida Constitution of 1968—the state constitution active in 2018—as well as the state constitutions of 1885 and 1868. On February 1, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker ruled Florida's process for the restoration of voting abilities for felons unconstitutional, saying it violated the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment.[13] Gov. Scott announced that he would appeal the ruling to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The Eleventh Circuit concurred with Gov. Scott's request, staying the lower court's ruling.[14]

How did the number of disenfranchised voters in Florida compare to margins of victory in notable Florida elections?

A report from The Sentencing Project estimated that, as of 2016, around 6.1 million people (about 2.5 percent of the U.S. voting age population) were disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. Florida was estimated to have 1,686,318 persons—10.43 percent of the voting age population—disenfranchised due to felonies. A state-by-state comparison of disenfranchised voting populations can be found here. The margin-of-victory (MOV) in the 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial elections was 1.2 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively. For presidential elections, the MOV was 0.9 percent in 2012 and 1.2 percent in 2016. More information on the MOV of past elections can be found here.

Who was behind the campaigns for and against Amendment 4? One committee was registered in support of Amendment 4: Floridians for a Fair Democracy. The committee had raised $25.3 million and spent $21.5 million.[15]

The top contributors to the support campaign were the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which contributed $5.53 million, and The Sixteen Thirty Fund, which gave $3.95 million.[15]

Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy was organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to advocate for and against voting policies related to the group's mission and oppose the ballot initiative. The committee did not report any campaign finance activity.

Felon voting policies in other states

Going into the election, Florida was one of four states—the three others are Iowa, Kentucky, and Virginia—where convicted felons do not regain the right to vote, until and unless a state officer or board restores an individual's voting rights. Approval of Amendment 4 meant that Florida joins 19 other states that restore the right to vote after prison time, parole, and probation are completed.


Other election-related issues on the ballot in 2018

Ten other states had ballot measures related to election policy on the ballot in 2018. Five of the measures concerned redistricting, and, like Florida's Amendment 4, three other measures concerned the topic of voting laws such as voter ID and voter registration.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title was as follows:[16]

“ Voting Restoration Amendment[17] ”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary was as follows:[16]

“ This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.[17] ”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article VI, Florida Constitution

The measure amended Section 4 of Article VI of the Florida Constitution. The following underlined text was added:[16] Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the below text to see the full text.

Article VI, Section 4. Disqualifications.—

(a) No person convicted of a felony, or adjudicated in this or any other state to be mentally incompetent, shall be qualified to vote or hold office until restoration of civil rights or removal of disability. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any disqualification from voting arising from a felony conviction shall terminate and voting rights shall be restored upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation.

(b) No person convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense shall be qualified to vote until restoration of civil rights.

(c) No person may appear on the ballot for re-election to any of the following offices:

(1) Florida representative,
(2) Florida senator,
(3) Florida Lieutenant governor,
(4) any office of the Florida cabinet,
(5) U.S. Representative from Florida, or
(6) U.S. Senator from Florida

if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served (or, but for resignation, would have served) in that office for eight consecutive years.[17]

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2018
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The initiative proponents wrote the ballot language for this measure.


The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 21, and the FRE is -50. The word count for the ballot title is 3, and the estimated reading time is 0 seconds. The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 16.7, and the FRE is 30.7. The word count for the ballot summary is 62, and the estimated reading time is 16 seconds.

In 2018, for the 167 statewide measures on the ballot, the average ballot title or question was written at a level appropriate for those with between 19 and 20 years of U.S. formal education (graduate school-level of education), according to the FKGL formula. Read Ballotpedia's entire 2018 ballot language readability report here.

Support

Floridians for a Fair Democracy logo.png

Floridians for a Fair Democracy led the campaign in support of the initiative.[9][18] Desmond Meade, chair of the campaign committee, was also president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.[19]

Supporters

Officials

Organizations

Individuals

  • John Legend[38]
  • Mark Holden, chair of Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce and senior vice president of Koch Industries, Inc[34]

Arguments

  • The League of Women Voters of Florida stated, "The League was one of the sponsors of this initiative. Florida is one of only four states that permanently bars felons from voting after their sentences are completed. This restriction on voting is a vestige of Florida’s post-Civil War Constitution. Everyone deserves a second chance."[31]
  • Floridians for a Fair Democracy, the committee sponsoring the initiative, stated, "Americans believe in second chances. We need to make sure that Florida Law does too. Nearly 1.5 million people in Florida are permanently excluded from voting because of a prior felony conviction. Florida is one of only four states that still has a system that excludes so many people from voting. These are our family members, friends, and neighbors who have already repaid their debts to society. Now is the time to restore the ability to vote to Floridians who have earned the opportunity to participate in and give back to their communities."[18]
  • Melba Pearson, Deputy Director for the ACLU of Florida said, "Let's look at what voting entails: It gives you the ability to have a say on your roads, on who is going to be on your school board to help educate your kids and who is going to be trying to get funding for your neighborhood. These are all important things that have to do with the communities people live in and if you take away people's right to vote and say 'you can never be fully engaged in the community,' how are you encouraging them to reintegrate and be part of said community?"[39]
  • Mark Holden, chair of Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce and senior vice president of Koch Industries, Inc, said, “We believe that when individuals have served their sentences and paid their debts as ordered by a judge, they should be eligible to vote. [...] If we want people returning to society to be productive, law abiding citizens, we need to treat them like full-fledged citizens.”[34]
  • U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said, "Amendment 4 represents a potential civil rights triumph: It could enfranchise more people at once than any single initiative since women’s suffrage. It's on the ballot this November and would restore the voting rights of nearly 1.5 million Floridians."[20]
  • Reggie Garcia, a Florida lawyer and the author of two books on executive clemency including “Second Chances-Florida Pardons, Restoration of Civil Rights, Gun Rights and More,” wrote the following in the Tallahassee Democrat:[40]
“ Data from the Florida Commission on Offender Review proves that the vast majority of felons who get their voting and other civil rights back do not commit new crimes. They have learned their lesson and are trying to earn the second chance they have been given.

Under Florida’s constitution, getting voting and other civil rights restored currently requires a grant of mercy, and the process simply takes too long. A 5- or 7-year waiting period must pass before you can even apply. Some felons seeking voting and other civil rights can be approved without a hearing, but most must wait several years to get a hearing and a decision because there are approximately 23,000 pending applications for all types of executive clemency.[17]

”

Opposition

Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy was organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to advocate for and against voting policies related to the group's mission and oppose the ballot initiative.[41][42] According to the group's website, Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy could register as a ballot initiative political committee at a later date.[43] Richard Harrison, an attorney, was the group's executive director.[44]

Opponents

Officials

Organizations

  • The Human Rights Defense Center[46]
  • Fightawa.org[47]
  • Women Against Registry[47]
  • The War Family Foundation a (501c3)[47]

Arguments

Richard Harrison, executive director of Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy, said:[48]

“ Other than murder and sexual felonies, it [the initiative] treats all other felonies as though they were the same. It's a blanket, automatic restoration of voting rights. If it gets on the ballot, your only choice will be an all or nothing, yes or no vote on the amendment. If it passes, neither you nor anyone else will ever be allowed to consider the specifics of the crime or the post-release history of the criminal before that new voter registration card is issued.[17] ”

Paul Wright, founder and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, a nonprofit based in Lake Worth that advocates for progressive criminal justice reform, wrote the following in the Tallahassee Democrat:[49]

“ The problem with Amendment 4 is that it perpetuates the discrimination and bigotry of disenfranchisement against a subclass of ex-felons – those convicted of murder or sex crimes. If Amendment 4 passes, it will enshrine into our state constitution discrimination against convicted murderers and sex offenders that will make enfranchising them virtually impossible. While some may point to the serious nature of their offenses, they have nothing to do with voting. The punishment of disenfranchisement does not fit the crime.

I was convicted of murder in Washington State in 1987 for killing a drug dealer during an armed robbery. In 1990, while serving a 25-year sentence, I started a nonprofit magazine from my prison cell which today employs 18 people to advocate for just, humane and fair criminal justice policies. I pay taxes, work to improve my community and am a productive member of society. But the backers of Amendment 4 would deny me the right to vote.[17]

”


Media editorials

Support

  • Florida Today said: "We expect convicted felons to fulfill their sentences, pay their dues to society and live law-abiding lives. Yet, we deprive them of a fundamental right in reintegrating them into society: voting."[50]
  • The New York Times said: "One hundred and fifty years after Florida enshrined this awful law, there’s only one clear way to get rid of it. Legal challenges have fallen short, the governor is no friend to voting rights, and lawmakers have limited power when it comes to constitutional amendments. It’s time for Florida’s voters to step up and restore the most fundamental constitutional right to more than a million of their neighbors."[51]
  • The Washington Post said: "Permanent disenfranchisement is a retrograde, racist and anti-American project. Here’s hoping Floridians heave it onto the scrap heap of history."[52]
  • The Tampa Bay Times said: "More than 1.5 million Floridians are prohibited from voting because of a constitutional anachronism that wastes money and deprives people of a second chance. Amendment 4, which reached the ballot after more than 800,000 Floridians signed a citizen petition, would correct Florida’s status as an outlier of disenfranchisement. The measure needs 60 percent approval to pass. Voters should have no qualms about supporting the automatic restoration of voting rights for people who have served their time and who deserve to be treated as full participants in society. On Amendment 4, the Tampa Bay Times recommends voting Yes."[53]
  • The Sun-Sentinel said: "We recommend YES — emphatically. This is the public’s heartwarming response to the politically motivated abuse of power by Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and their colleagues on the Cabinet. Only 992 people won clemency in 2016 and 2017, according to the web journal Florida Phoenix. Some 10,000 applications are pending. Many thousands of people seem to have simply given up. Florida’s lifetime disenfranchisement is deeply rooted in post-slavery racism — some 21 percent are African-American — and serves no purpose except voter suppression. Florida is the largest of just four states with such a harsh policy. This amendment would restore voting rights automatically upon completion of all terms of a sentence, including parole or probation, but does not apply to those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, who would still need to apply individually. [54]
  • The Naples Daily News said: "By approving Amendment 4, voters can tell state leaders that nonviolent felons deserve another chance once they’ve finished their sentences, including time on probation or parole. While the state appeals Walker’s ruling, voters can — by approving Amendment 4 — let Florida leaders know the state’s clemency process isn’t acceptable."[55]
  • The Tallahassee Democrat said: "We see no public benefit in forever forbidding felons to vote, and Florida is one of only four states that doesn't automatically restore voting rights to those who fulfilled their sentences. If we want ex-offenders to turn their lives around, we should do our best to let them fully return to society. If they re-offend and go back inside, they won’t be voting — but as long as they’re rebuilding their lives, why not let them have full citizenship? We’ll be voting 'yes' on Amendment 4."[56]
  • The Herald-Tribune said: "Despite having paid their debts to society, more than 1.5 million ex-felons in Florida — the largest number of any state — are denied voting rights. This is morally wrong. It is also unnecessarily punitive: Denying voting rights does nothing to protect public safety or advance the common good; it erects yet another barrier that makes it more difficult for former inmates to reintegrate into society. We recommend voting YES, for Amendment 4.[57]
  • Your Observer said: "Florida’s system for restoring felons’ rights is outdated and unreasonable. This amendment would expand liberty for more than 1.5 million Floridians who have paid their debt to society. We recommend: Vote yes."[58]
  • The Treasure Coast Newspapers said: "Florida is an outlier in this realm. It's one of four states that doesn't automatically restore voting rights to those who have completed their sentences. Our state as a whole benefit when citizens who have completed their sentences can become productive members of society — and that includes voting. Moreover, Florida's current clemency system, which gives full power to the governor and Cabinet, is broken and arbitrary."[59]

Additional editorial endorsements

In addition to the above editorial endorsements, the following outlets have also endorsed a yes vote on the measure:

  • The Florida Times-Union[60]
  • The Palm Beach Post[61]
  • The Daily Commercial[62]
  • The Independent Florida Alligator[63]
  • Orlando Sentinel[64]
  • The Miami Herald[65]

Opposition

  • The News-Press said, "No on Amendment 4: This isn't a vote against ex-felons who have served their sentence for certain crimes, including parole and probation, and want their voting rights restored. We believe the Legislature should be addressing this issue and giving those rights back to felons who have earned their way back and deserve to vote. Currently, former felons must wait at least 5 years after completing their sentences to ask the Florida Clemency Board, made up by the governor and the Cabinet, to restore their rights. If passed, Amendment 4 impacts 1.5 million Floridians. Florida is one of four states that disenfranchises former felons permanently."[66]
If you are aware of any more editorials opposing Amendment 4, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Florida ballot measures
Total campaign contributions:
Support: $26,252,067.01
Opposition: $0.00

Ballotpedia identified two committees registered in support of Amendment 4: Floridians for a Fair Democracy and The Committee to Advance Constitutional Values. The committees raised $26.25 million and spent $23.98 million.[15]

The top contributors to the support campaign were the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which contributed $6.09 million, and The Sixteen Thirty Fund, which gave $3.95 million.[15]

Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy was organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to advocate for and against voting policies related to the group's mission and oppose the ballot initiative. The committee did not report any campaign finance activity.

The Committee to Advance Constitutional Values also registered to oppose the Constitution Revision Commission proposals on the 2018 ballot, though it did not specify if it was only opposing certain proposals or all of them. Thus, it is impossible to determine how much money was raised or spent on Florida Amendment 4 or for the CRC proposals.

Support

Committees in support of Amendment 4
Supporting committeesCash contributionsIn-kind servicesCash expenditures
Floridians for a Fair Democracy$23,117,298.97$2,172,605.77$21,012,398.11
Committee to Advance Constitutional Values$865,458.00$96,704.27$696,187.15
Total$23,982,756.97$2,269,310.04$21,708,585.26
Totals in support
Total raised:$26,252,067.01
Total spent:$23,977,895.30

Donors

The following were the donors who had contributed $800,000 or more to the support committee:[15]

Donor Cash In-kind Total
American Civil Liberties Union $5,528,316.00 $558,580.41 $6,086,896.41
Sixteen Thirty Fund $3,950,000.00 $0.00 $3,950,000.00
Liz Simons $1,100,000.00 $0.00 $1,100,000.00
Laurie Michaels $800,000.00 $0.00 $800,000.00
League of Conservation Voters $800,000.00 $11,250.00 $800,00.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls and 2018 ballot measure polls
Florida Amendment 4 (2018)
Poll Support OpposeUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
St. Pete Polls
October 27, 2018 - October 28, 2018		 59.8%33.7%6.5%+/-2.12,118
Suffolk University
October 25, 2018 - October 28, 2018		 70.0%21.0%8.0%+/-4.4500
The North Star/EMC
September 17, 2018 - September 23, 2018		 74.0%23.0%3.0%+/-3.11,000
Public Opinion Research Lab at University of North Florida
September 17, 2018 - September 19, 2018		 71.0%21.0%7.0%+/-4.0616
Cherry Communication/Florida Chamber of Commerce Poll
May 25, 2018 - June 2, 2018		 40.0%17.0%43.0%+/-4.0605
The North Star/EMC
March 22, 2018 - April 2, 2018		 74.0%23.0%3.0%+/-2.71,303
Public Opinion Research Lab at University of North Florida
January 29, 2018 - February 4, 2018		 71.0%22.0%6.0%+/-3.9619
AVERAGES 65.69% 22.96% 10.93% +/-3.46 965.86
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Background

Convicted felons voting laws

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

As of 2018, Florida was one of four states—the three others are Iowa, Kentucky, and Virginia—where convicted felons do not regain the right to vote, until and unless a state officer or board restores an individual's voting rights. Amendment 4 was designed to restore voting rights for convicted felons, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon the completion of all terms of sentence, including prison, parole, and probation. Of the 50 states, two states—Maine and Vermont—do not rescind the right to vote for convicted felons, allowing them to vote while incarcerated; 14 states and Washington, D.C., restore voting rights upon completion of a prison sentence; four states restore voting rights upon completion of prison and parole time; 19 states restore the right to vote after prison time, parole, and probation are completed; and seven states have systems where certain felons, based on the type or number of crimes committed, regain the right to vote. The following map details the convicted felons voting laws across the United States:[67]

Margin-of-victory in past Florida elections

A report from The Sentencing Project, estimated that, as of 2016, around 6.1 million people, or about 2.5 percent of the U.S. voting age population, were disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. Florida was estimated to have 1,686,318 persons—10.43 percent of the voting age population—disenfranchised due to felonies. A state-by-state comparison of disenfranchised voting populations can be found here.

An electoral margin-of-victory (MOV) is the difference between the share of votes cast for the winning candidate and the second-place candidate in an election. For example, if Candidate A wins an election with 55 percent of the vote and Candidate B, the second-place finisher, wins 45 percent of the vote, the winner's margin of victory is 10 percent. Margins of victory can be used to measure electoral competitiveness, political party or candidate strength, and, indirectly, the popularity of a particular policy or set of policies. Ballotpedia considers competitive races to be those with a MOV of less than 10 percent.[68][69]

Gubernatorial elections

Republicans have held the office of Governor of Florida since the 1998 election. The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Florida governors from 1992 to 2013.
Governor of Florida Partisanship.PNG

2018

The Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election of 2018 was rated as a toss-up.

2014 MOV: 1 percent

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRick Scott/Carlos Lopez-Cantera Incumbent 48.1% 2,865,343
     Democratic Charlie Crist/Annette Taddeo-Goldstein 47.1% 2,801,198
     Libertarian Adrian Wyllie/Greg Roe 3.8% 223,356
     No Party Affiliation Glenn Burkett/Jose Augusto Matos 0.7% 41,341
     No Party Affiliation Farid Khavari/Lateresa Jones 0.3% 20,186
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0% 137
Total Votes 5,951,561
Election results via Florida Division of Elections


2010 MOV: 1.2 percent

Florida Gubernatorial/Lt. Gubernatorial General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRick Scott/Jennifer Carroll 48.9% 2,619,335
     Democratic Alex Sink/Rod Smith 47.7% 2,557,785
     Independent Peter L. Allen/John E. Zanni 2.3% 123,831
     No Party Affiliation C.C. Reed/Larry Waldo, Sr. 0.4% 18,842
     No Party Affiliation Michael E. Arth/Al Krulick 0.3% 18,644
     No Party Affiliation Daniel Imperato/Karl Behm 0.3% 13,690
     No Party Affiliation Farid Khavari/Darcy G. Richardson 0.1% 7,487
     Write-in Josue Larouse/Valencia St. Louis 0% 121
Total Votes 5,359,735
Election results via Florida Department of State

Presidential elections in Florida

2016 MOV: 1.2 percent

See also Presidential election in Florida, 2016
U.S. presidential election, Florida, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 47.8% 4,504,975 0
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump/Mike Pence 49% 4,617,886 29
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 2.2% 207,043 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 0.7% 64,399 0
     Constitution Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley 0.2% 16,475 0
     Reform Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg 0.1% 9,108 0
     - Other/Write-in 0% 153 0
Total Votes 9,420,039 29
Election results via: Florida Division of Elections

2012 MOV: 0.9 percent

2008 MOV: 2.8 percent

History of felon voting laws in Florida

Section 4 of Article VI of the Florida Constitution, which provided that persons convicted of prior felonies could not vote, was part of the Florida Constitution of 1968—the state constitution that was active in 2018.[70] Section 4's provision on the voting rights of felons carried over from the two preceding state constitutions, the constitution of 1885 and the constitution of 1868.[71][72] In 1968, voters approved a legislative referral to keep the provision in the new Article VI, with 55.71 percent voting in favor.[73]

The state's first constitution, which was enacted in 1838, did not provide that persons convicted of prior felonies could not vote. However, the constitution did empower the Florida State Legislature to revoke the voting rights of people who committed infamous crimes.[74]

As Amendment 4 would provide for the restoration of voting rights to certain convicted felons upon the completion of their sentences, the measure would be amending a constitutional mandate in place since 1868.

In addition to losing the right to vote, convicted felons in Florida lose the ability to hold a public office, sit on a jury, or possess a firearm.[75]

Johnson v. Bush (2005)

On April 12, 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld Florida's felon disenfranchisement law as constitutional and not violating the Voting Rights Act (VRA).[76]

Plaintiffs contended that "racial animus motivated the adoption of Florida’s criminal disenfranchisement provision in 1868," according to the court.[76] While criminal disenfranchisement existed in Florida since 1838, plaintiffs said "the scope of such disenfranchisement was significantly expanded in 1868, after the Civil War... with the intention of restricting the voting rights of Florida’s newly freed black population." According to the plaintiffs, the provision had "a significantly disproportionate impact on African-Americans, particularly black men." Plaintiffs said the provision violated the Voting Rights Act and U.S. Constitution.[77]

The Elevent Circuit disagreed with plaintiffs, arguing that criminal disenfranchisement, passed as a statute in 1845, preexisted the time when African-Americans had a right to vote and that the constitutional convention that crafted the 1868 constitution was multiracial. The court also decided that Florida re-enacted the felon disenfranchisement provision of the state constitution in 1968 for race-neutral reasons and that "Congress never intended the Voting Rights Act to reach felon disenfranchisement provisions."[76]

Hand v. Scott (2018)

On February 1, 2018, Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida declared Florida's process, which involves an Executive Clemency Board, for restoring voting rights for felons unconstitutional, saying the process violated the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He stated, "It is the Board’s process to restore voting rights that this Court finds unconstitutional." The order did not rule Florida's requirement of felon disenfranchisement unconstitutional. Judge Walker said, "A state may disenfranchise convicted felons. A particularly punitive state might even disenfranchise convicted felons permanently. But once a state provides for restoration, its process cannot offend the Constitution."[78] The Fair Elections Legal Network, representing nine felons, brought the case against Gov. Rick Scott (R).[79]

Judge Walker cited a quote from Gov. Scott, who said "we can do whatever we want" at a board hearing, throughout his ruling. The judge described the process for restoring voting rights for felons as subjective, arbitrary, and discriminatory. He said, "When a scheme allows government officials to “do whatever [they] want,” viewpoint discrimination can slip through the cracks of a seemingly impartial process." He stated that possible discrimination in the process violated felons right to free association and free expression. He also stated that the lack of time limits in processing and deciding applications for the restoration of voting rights could lead to discrimination and violated the First Amendment. The judge said the process violated the Fourteenth Amendment because the executive clemency process in Florida requires "act[s] of grace" that, according to the ruling, "courts historically have avoided."[78]

Judge Walker upheld the five-year and seven-year waiting periods before felons can request the restoration of voting rights as constitutional. As the "state uniformly applies the waiting periods to all convicted felons," he said, "this application [process] poses little risk of viewpoint discrimination."[78]

The judge stated, "having determined that Florida’s vote-restoration scheme is unconstitutional, this Court must determine the appropriate relief." He asked the parties involved to suggest remedies by February 12, 2018.[78]

The office of Gov. Scott responded to the ruling, stating, "The discretion of the clemency board over the restoration of felons' rights in Florida has been in place for decades and overseen by multiple governors. The process is outlined in Florida's Constitution, and today's ruling departs from precedent set by the United States Supreme Court."[80][81]

On February 12, 2018, Florida Solicitor General Amit Agarwal told the court that the Executive Clemency Board, not the judge, should be responsible for coming up with a process that meets constitutional requirements. Agarwal said, "there is no reason to upend the state’s constitutional and statutory framework." Fair Election Legal Network, which brought the case against Gov. Scott, told the judge that voting rights restoration should occur for felons following the completion of a waiting period set in state law or administrative rules. The group said, "Such an order will effectively eliminate the requirement for ex-felons to affirmatively apply for restoration and eliminate the state’s obligation to investigate each ex-felon in the state of Florida prior to making what this court has found must be an objective determination made in a timely fashion."[82][83]

On March 27, 2018, Judge Walker ordered the state to develop a new method for deciding how ex-felons regain the right to vote. He gave the governor and board until April 26, 2018, to come up with a new method. Judge Walker did not order specific rules, stating, "This court is not the vote restoration czar. It does not pick and choose who may receive the right to vote and who may not. Nor does it write the rules and regulations for the executive clemency board."[84]

Gov. Scott announced that he would appeal the ruling to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. John Tupps, a spokesperson for the governor, said, "People elected by Floridians should determine Florida’s clemency rules for convicted criminals, not federal judges. This process has been in place for decades and is outlined in the both the U.S. and Florida constitutions."[85] On April 25, 2018, Gov. Scott asked the Eleventh Circuit to change the deadline that Judge Walker gave the cabinet to come up with a new method.[86] The Eleventh Circuit concurred with Gov. Scott's request, staying the lower court's ruling.[87]

Executive Clemency Board

In Florida, the right to vote can be restored for convicted felons with the approval of the Executive Clemency Board. The governor and members of the executive cabinet make up the board. While the governor makes the final decision as to whether to grant or deny clemency, including the restoration of voting rights, at least two members of the board need to join the governor to grant clemency. Under rules enacted by Gov. Rick Scott's (R) administration, convicted felons must wait five or seven years, depending on the type of offense, after the completion of their sentences to request that the board consider the restoration of their voting and other civil rights.[11][12]

Under Gov. Charlie Crist, who was elected as a Republican, changed his affiliation to unaffiliated toward the end of his term in office, and registered as a Democrat after his time as governor, the Executive Clemency Board automatically restored the rights of felons who had completed their sentences, paid restitution, and had no pending criminal charges. Gov. Crist's automatic restoration policy did not extend to felons who were convicted of murder, attempted murder, sexual battery, attempted sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, kidnapping, arson, first-degree trafficking in illegal substances, treason, or other specified felonies.[88] During Gov. Crist's four years in office, 155,315 felons had their voting rights restored.[89]

Election policy on the ballot in 2018


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Voters considered ballot measures addressing election policy in 15 states in 2018.

Redistricting:

See also: Redistricting measures on the ballot
  • Missouri Amendment 1, Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and Redistricting Initiative (2018) Approveda - The PAC Clean Missouri collected signatures to get the initiated amendment on the ballot. The measure made changes to the state's lobbying laws, campaign finance limits for state legislative candidates, and legislative redistricting process. The position of nonpartisan state demographer was created. Amendment 1 made the demographer responsible for drawing legislative redistricting maps and presenting them to the House and Senate apportionment commissions.

Voting requirements and ballot access:

  • Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018) Approveda - The committee Floridians for a Fair Democracy collected more than the required 766,200 signatures to get Amendment 4 placed on the ballot. The measure was designed to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation. It was approved.
  • North Carolina Voter ID Amendment (2018) Approveda - This amendment was referred to the ballot by the state legislature along party lines with Republicans voting in favor of it and Democrats voting against it. It created a constitutional requirement that voters present a photo ID to vote in person. It was approved.

Arkansas Issue 3, a legislative term limits initiative, was certified for the ballot but was blocked by an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling. The measure would have imposed term limits of six years for members of the Arkansas House of Representatives and eight years for members of the Arkansas Senate. The ruling came too late to remove the measure from the ballot, but the supreme court ordered election officials to not count or certify votes for Issue 3.

Campaign finance, political spending, and ethics:

  • Colorado Amendment 75, Campaign Contribution Limits Initiative (2018) Defeatedd - Proponents collected more than the required 136,328 valid signatures and met the state's distribution requirement to qualify this initiative for the ballot. The measure would have established that if any candidate for state office directs (by loan or contribution) more than one million dollars in support of his or her own campaign, then every candidate for the same office in the same primary or general election may accept five times the aggregate amount of campaign contributions normally allowed. It was defeated.


Reports and analyses

Estimated number of disenfranchised felons

The Sentencing Project, a criminal justice organization that advocates for changing laws to restore the right to vote for persons with felonies, published a report estimating the number of disenfranchised felons in each state in 2016. Sociologists Christopher Uggen, Ryan Larson, and Sarah Shannon wrote the report and developed estimates based on data for correctional populations, national recidivism rates for people released from prison and probationers, and a higher death rate for felons.[90]

The report estimated that, as of 2016, around 6.1 million people, or about 2.5 percent of the U.S. voting age population, were disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. Florida was estimated to have 1,686,318 persons—10.43 percent of the voting age population—disenfranchised due to felonies. The majority of the disenfranchised persons, around 88.23 percent, were estimated to have completed their sentences. Florida had the highest rate of felons disenfranchised in the U.S. in 2016, according to the report. The estimated average rate of felon disenfranchisement across the 50 states was 2.28 percent in 2016.[90]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Florida

In Florida, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast in the preceding presidential election. Florida also has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures equal to 8 percent of the district-wide vote in at least half (14) of the state's 27 congressional districts must be collected. Signatures are valid for two years and must be submitted before the verification deadline on Feb. 1 of the year that proponents want the initiative on the ballot.

The requirements to get an initiative certified for the ballot in 2018:

  • Signatures: 766,200 valid signatures were required.
  • Deadline: The deadline for signature verification was February 1, 2018. As local officials had 30 days to check signatures, proponents had to file signatures at least 30 days before the deadline on February 1, 2018.

The Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative was filed in October 2014. The initiative was sent to the Florida Supreme Court on October 4, 2016, and the court determined the initiative met the state's single-subject rule on April 20, 2017.[91][92] Justice Fred Lewis wrote the court's decision.[93]

Proponents aimed to get the initiative placed on the ballot in 2016, but then decided to aim for the ballot in 2018.[94]

Desmond Meade, chair of Floridians for Fair Democracy, said the campaign had more than 900,000 signatures, including unverified signatures, as of November 28, 2017.[95]

On January 22, 2018, the Florida Division of Elections reported that 799,278 signatures had been validated in 14 of the state's 27 congressional districts, which meant the initiative qualified for the ballot.[9]

Cost of signature collection:
Sponsors of the measure hired PCI Consultants, Inc. to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $3,890,759.12 was spent to collect the 766,200 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $5.08.[96] Sponsors spent $143,973.64 (3.70 percent) of the total cost on verifying petitions.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Florida

Poll times

In Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Florida is split between Eastern and Central time zones.[97]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.[98][99]

Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:[98]

  • Local elections offices
  • Public assistance agencies
  • Disability services agencies
  • Independent living centers
  • Military recruitment offices
  • Public libraries

A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.[99]

Automatic registration

Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Florida does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Verifying your registration

The page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Florida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.[100][101]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

  • Florida driver’s license
  • Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • United States passport
  • Debit or credit card
  • Military identification
  • Student identification
  • Retirement center identification
  • Neighborhood association identification
  • Public assistance identification
  • Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
  • Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality

A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.

See also

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Florida heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

Trifecta status

2018 elections

See also: Florida elections, 2018

Florida held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Florida
 FloridaU.S.
Total population:20,244,914316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):53,6253,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:76%73.6%
Black/African American:16.1%12.6%
Asian:2.6%5.1%
Native American:0.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.4%3%
Hispanic/Latino:23.7%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:86.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$47,507$53,889
Persons below poverty level:19.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Florida.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2017, Florida's three largest cities were Jacksonville (pop. est. 860,000), Miami (pop. est. 430,000), and Tampa (pop. est. 360,000).[102][103]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Florida from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Florida Department of State.

Historical elections

Presidential elections

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Florida every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Florida 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 49.0% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 47.8% 1.2%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 50.0% Republican Party Mitt Romney 49.1% 0.9%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.0% Republican Party John McCain 48.2% 2.8%
2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 52.10% Democratic Party John Kerry 47.09% 5.01%
2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 48.847% Democratic Party Al Gore 48.838% 0.009%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Florida from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Florida 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Marco Rubio 52.0% Democratic Party Patrick Murphy 44.3% 7.7%
2012 Democratic Party Bill Nelson 55.2% Republican Party Connie Mack 42.2% 13.0%
2010 Republican Party Marco Rubio 48.9% Independent Charlie Crist 29.7% 19.2%
2006 Democratic Party Bill Nelson 60.3% Republican Party Katherine Harris 38.1% 22.2%
2004 Republican Party Mel Martinez 49.4% Democratic Party Betty Castor 48.3% 1.1%
2000 Democratic Party Bill Nelson 51.0% Republican Party Bill McCollum 46.2% 4.8%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Florida.

Election results (Governor/Lt. Governor), Florida 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Rick Scott/Carlos Lopez-Cantera 48.1% Democratic Party Charlie Crist/Annette Taddeo-Goldstein 47.1% 1%
2010 Republican Party Rick Scott/Jennifer Carroll 48.9% Democratic Party Alex Sink/Rod Smith 47.7% 1.2%
2006 Republican Party Charlie Crist/Jeff Kottkamp 52.2% Democratic Party Jim Davis/Daryl Jones 45.1% 7.1%
2002 Republican Party Jeb Bush/Frank Brogan 56.0% Democratic Party Bill McBride/Tom Rossin 43.2% 12.8%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Florida in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Florida 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 17 62.9% Democratic Party 10 37.0% R+7
2014 Republican Party 17 62.9% Democratic Party 10 37.0% R+7
2012 Republican Party 17 62.9% Democratic Party 10 37.0% R+7
2010 Republican Party 19 76.0% Democratic Party 6 24.0% R+13
2008 Republican Party 15 60.0% Democratic Party 10 40.0% R+5
2006 Republican Party 16 64.0% Democratic Party 9 36.0% R+7
2004 Republican Party 18 66.7% Democratic Party 7 33.3% R+11
2002 Republican Party 17 66.7% Democratic Party 8 33.3% R+9
2000 Republican Party 15 57.9% Democratic Party 8 42.1% R+7

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Florida Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta  •  Twenty-five years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R I R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


External links

Support

Opposition

Email opposition links to editor@ballotpedia.org

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
  2. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
  3. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Confusion clouds restoration of Florida felons’ voting rights," accessed December 17, 2018
  4. ↑ My News 13, "Amendment 4 Could Be Delayed 60 Days, DeSantis Says," accessed December 17, 2018
  5. ↑ Palm Beach Post, "EXCLUSIVE: DeSantis to act quickly on water, Supreme Court, Broward sheriff," accessed December 17, 2018
  6. ↑ https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/12/14/ron-desantis-wants-lawmakers-have-look-amendment-4/2314818002/ Tallahassee Democrat, "Critics angry after Ron DeSantis asks Florida lawmakers to review Amendment 4 implementation," accessed December 17, 2018]
  7. ↑ Law 360, "BREAKING: 11th Circ. Sides With Fla. In Felon Voting Rights Dispute," accessed September 11, 2020
  8. ↑ Document Cloud, "Jones v Florida," accessed September 11, 2020
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Florida Division of Elections, "Voting Restoration Amendment 14-01," accessed April 20, 2017
  10. ↑ The Brennan Center, "Voting rights restoration efforts in Florida," accessed July 17, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Florida Commission on Offender Review, "Executive Clemency Timeline: 1991-2015," accessed December 7, 2017
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Florida Commission on Offender Review, "Rules of Executive Clemency," accessed December 7, 2017
  13. ↑ Miami Herald, "Florida’s lifetime ban on voting by felons is unconstitutional, federal judge rules," February 1, 2018
  14. ↑ CBS 12, "Court backs state in felons' rights fight," April 25, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Florida Department of State, "Campaign Finance Database," accessed December 11, 2018 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "fin" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Florida Secretary of State, "Initiative #14-01 Petition," accessed April 20, 2017
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Floridians for a Fair Democracy, "Homepage," accessed November 30, 2017
  19. ↑ St. Peters Blog, "Supreme Court OKs gambling control, felon voting rights amendments," April 20, 2017
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Bernie Sanders Tweet, September 26, 2018
  21. ↑ USA Today, "Ex-felons in Florida need their voting rights back," February 11, 2018
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Tampa Bay Times, "Where they stand: Candidates for governor on vote for felons," January 30, 2018
  23. ↑ Florida Politics, "‘Julián Castro 2020’? Former HUD head addresses Democrats in Miami," accessed October 1, 2018
  24. ↑ Twitter, "Second Chances Florida September 18, 2018 Tweet," accessed September 20, 2018
  25. ↑ Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, "2018 Ballot Amendments Recommendations," accessed October 14, 2018
  26. ↑ Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, "Homepage," accessed January 6, 2017
  27. ↑ Politico, "ACLU to storm 2018 midterms," January 6, 2018
  28. ↑ Our Revolution, "Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative: Voting Restoration Amendment," accessed September 2, 2017
  29. ↑ Florida Politics, "Committee backing voting restoration amendment raises $1.1M in November," December 13, 2017
  30. ↑ Wear TV, "Amendment would restore felons' right to vote in Florida," accessed July 25, 2018
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 League of Women Voters of Florida, "Amendments," accessed September 13, 2018
  32. ↑ News-Press, "We support restoration of an ex-felon's voting rights," September 13, 2018
  33. ↑ Florida TaxWatch, "2018 Florida Voter Guide," accessed October 5, 2018
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Second Chances Florida, "Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce Endorses Amendment 4," September 13, 2018
  35. ↑ Libertarian Party of Florida, "LPF Voting Recommendations for the 2018 FL Ballot," accessed October 19, 2018
  36. ↑ Second Chances Florida, "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops Announces Support for Amendment 4," October 18, 2018
  37. ↑ TBYR, "2018 Florida Constitutional Amendments Recommendations," accessed November 1, 2018
  38. ↑ News 965, "SINGER JOHN LEGEND WILL RALLY IN ORLANDO TO RESTORE FELON’S VOTING RIGHTS," accessed October 1, 2018
  39. ↑ WLRN, "ACLU Of Florida Explains Its Stand On Constitutional Amendments Four, Six And 11," accessed September 26, 2018
  40. ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "Amendment 4 will save taxpayer money and give felons a second chance | Opinion," accessed September 20, 2018
  41. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy," accessed November 30, 2017
  42. ↑ Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy, "Homepage," accessed December 21, 2017
  43. ↑ Floridians For A Sensible Voting Rights Policy, "About," accessed December 21, 2017
  44. ↑ Florida Politics, "Tampa attorney argues against proposed voter restoration amendment," November 3, 2017
  45. ↑ Florida Family Action, "2018 Ballot Amendment Voter Guide," accessed October 19, 2018
  46. ↑ Human Rights Defense Center, "FLORIDA AMENDMENT 4 – HRDC FACT SHEET," accessed November 14, 2018
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Ballotpedia staff, "Email correspondence with Woment Against Registry representative," accessed November 14, 2018
  48. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Column: Reject effort to restore voting rights for most felons," August 31, 2017
  49. ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "The case against Amendment 4 on felon voting rights | Opinion," accessed September 20, 2018
  50. ↑ Florida Today, "Why you should vote to restore felons' voting rights | Our view," February 5, 2018
  51. ↑ New York Times, "Florida’s 1.5 Million Missing Voters," January 2, 2018
  52. ↑ Washington Post, "Floridians should scrap these retrograde, racist voting laws," January 27, 2018
  53. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Times recommends: Yes on Amendment 4," accessed October 8, 2018
  54. ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Five good — seven bad — amendments for Florida’s Constitution | Editorial," accessed October 8, 2018
  55. ↑ Naples News, "Editorial: Our final recommendations on amendments," accessed October 10, 2018
  56. ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "Florida's constitutional amendments: Vote 'yes' on 4 and 11, 'no' on rest | Our opinion," accessed October 12, 2018
  57. ↑ Herald Tribune, "Editorial: In support of Amendments 3, 4," accessed October 3, 2018
  58. ↑ Your Observer, "Florida voters will decide dozens of ballot questions. Here are six for consideration," accessed October 13, 2018
  59. ↑ Treasure Coast Palm, "How to vote on 12 constitutional amendments on Nov. 6 ballot | Our view," accessed October 13, 2018
  60. ↑ Jacksonville, "Editorial: Sorting out confusing amendments for the voters," accessed October 15, 2018
  61. ↑ My Palm Beach Post, "Editorial: Time to restore voting rights to 1.5 million Floridians," accessed October 15, 2018
  62. ↑ Daily Commercial, "Our Opinion: Our recommendations on the amendments," accessed October 23, 2018
  63. ↑ The Independent Florida Alligator, "The Alligator's endorsements for Constitutional amendments and referenda," accessed October 31, 2018
  64. ↑ The Orlando Sentinel, "Editorial: Florida's Election 2018: Our endorsements for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the amendments," accessed October 31, 2018
  65. ↑ Miami Herald, "Learn how 12 Florida amendments affect your life, and your wallet, before you vote," accessed November 4, 2018
  66. ↑ News-Press, "Editorial: Proposed amendments too much of a gamble; vote 'no' on 11 of them," accessed October 8, 2018
  67. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," November 28, 2017
  68. ↑ FairVote, "Average Margin of Victory," accessed August 7, 2017
  69. ↑ Usenix.org, "Computing the Margin of Victory in IRV Elections," accessed August 7, 2017
  70. ↑ Florida Constitution Revision Commission, "Amendments, Election of 11-5-68," accessed December 7, 2017
  71. ↑ Florida Constitution Revision Commission, "Constitution of 1885," accessed December 7, 2017
  72. ↑ Florida Constitution Revision Commission, "Constitution of 1868," accessed December 7, 2017
  73. ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "Tabulation of Official Votes Cast in the General Election (1968)," accessed December 7, 2017
  74. ↑ Florida Constitution Revision Commission, "Constitution of 1838," accessed December 7, 2017
  75. ↑ Florida Commission on Offender Review, "Clemency," accessed January 30, 2018
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, "Johnson v. Bush," April 12, 2005
  77. ↑ United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, "Johnson v. Bush," September 21, 2000
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 78.3 United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, "Hand v. Scott," February 1, 2018
  79. ↑ NPR, "Voting Rights Process For Florida Felons Unconstitutional, Judge Says," February 2, 2018
  80. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Judge strikes down Florida’s system for denying felons’ voting rights," February 2, 2018
  81. ↑ CBS News, "Ruling on voting rights for felons in Florida could impact upcoming elections," February 2, 2018
  82. ↑ News 4 JAX, "State says it should control rights restoration," February 12, 2018
  83. ↑ Florida Politics, "State, voting rights group disagree on how to handle clemency process," February 12, 2018
  84. ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "Florida ordered to redo how it restores felons' voting rights," March 26, 2018
  85. ↑ Florida Politics, "Rick Scott, Cabinet appeal voting rights ruling," April 6, 2018
  86. ↑ Florida Politics, "State requests more time in felons’ rights battle," April 25, 2018
  87. ↑ CBS 12, "Court backs state in felons' rights fight," April 25, 2018
  88. ↑ Florida Commission on Offender Review, "Rules of Executive Clemency (2007)," accessed January 30, 2018
  89. ↑ Florida Politics, "Charlie Crist applauds Terry McAuliffe for beating his record on restoring voting rights," April 20, 2018
  90. ↑ 90.0 90.1 The Sentencing Project, "6 Million Lost Voters: State-Level Estimates of Felony Disenfranchisement, 2016," October 6, 2016
  91. ↑ Florida Politics, "Felon voter restoration advocates make their case to Supreme Court," November 23, 2016
  92. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Voting rights ballot initiative clears Supreme Court legal hurdle," April 20, 2017
  93. ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Advisory Opinion," April 20, 2017
  94. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Petition drive for 2016 would make it easier for ex-felons to regain voting rights," December 21, 2014
  95. ↑ Florida Politics, "Voting restoration amendment has 900,000 signatures," November 29, 2017
  96. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Campaign Finance Database," accessed February 13, 2018
  97. ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "FAQ - Voting," accessed April 10, 2023
  98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 Florida Division of Elections, "National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," August 2, 2022
  99. ↑ 99.0 99.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update your Information," accessed April 10, 2023
  100. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Election Day Voting," accessed April 10, 2023
  101. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls," accessed April 10, 2023
  102. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts - Florida," accessed May 9, 2018
  103. ↑ Florida Demographics, "Florida Cities by Population," accessed May 9, 2018
v • e
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