Republicans in the country’s largest swing state moved to rein in the number of former felons allowed to cast ballots in next year’s presidential election
TALLAHASSEE — Republicans in the country’s largest swing state, ahead of what promises to be a heated 2020 battle, on Thursday moved to rein in the number of former felons allowed to cast ballots in next year’s presidential election.
This year, election supervisors began registering former felons who had served their time, prompting a debate over the amendment. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican and one of the bill’s architects, said legislators were following the wording of Amendment 4. In debate on the Senate floor Thursday, he pointed out that an attorney for voting rights groups used the same definition when the measure was reviewed by the state Supreme Court.The debate was heavy with the potential of considerable political consequence. By some estimates, Amendment 4 could enfranchise as many as 1.4 million former felons.
The bill, which now returns to the House with time running out on the legislative session, includes a safe harbor provision for anyone who registered to vote this year. Anyone registered between Jan. 8 — the date the amendment took effect — and July 1 cannot be prosecuted for voter fraud if they’re later found ineligible to vote because of outstanding fines or fees.
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