RONALD DION DeSANTIS, Governor-elect?
Does DeSANTIS really reckon that Republicans can delay implementation of Amendment 4, which we in the reality-based community understand to be both self-executing and self-evident, which the ballot summary explained "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."
Underlining shows the full text of Amendment 4, now part of our Florida Constitution:
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:
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.[11]
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Impending elections in Jacksonville and elsewhere must not be contaminated by Republican foot-dragging. DeSANTIS, who acts like a hobbledehoy in TRUMP's employ, does not speak for voters -- voters speak for voters, and Amendment 4 becomes the mandatory legal authority in the State of Florida on January 8, 2019.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Former felons should ignore Ron DeSantis and register to vote Jan. 8, Amendment 4 advocates say
After Florida voters decided to pass Amendment 4 on Election Day, ex-felons or 'returned citizens' had their voting rights restored.
Steven Lemongello Steven LemongelloContact Reporter
Orlando Sentinel
Governor-elect Ron DeSantis threw a wrench Thursday into former felons’ plan to register to vote in January, leading Amendment 4 advocates to quickly jump in to insist they will regain their rights Jan. 8 whether he and the Legislature acts or not.
Supporters of the amendment, which would restore voting rights to 1.4 million former felons and passed with almost 65 percent of the vote in November, said its language clearly states it will become automatic on Jan. 8 without any approval from the Legislature or governor.
But in an interview with the Palm Beach Post, DeSantis said the amendment should not take effect until “implementing language” is approved and signed.
“They’re going to be able to do that in March,” DeSantis told the Post. “There’s no way you can go through this session without implementing it.”
By that time, early voting and even Election Day will have begun for many municipal elections across Florida, including Tampa and Orange County cities such as Winter Park and Maitland.
Florida's fight for Amendment 4 is a personal crusade for many seeking right to vote
Desmond Meade of Orlando, who founded the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and led the petition drive to get Amendment 4 on the ballot, said in a statement that “the language is clear and that this Amendment does not require enabling legislation.”
“Amendment 4 was and remains about people, not politics,” Meade said. “It is about people like the veteran in Tampa who is ready to vote this March in the mayor’s race, or the pastor in Jacksonville who has been waiting for years to do the same in her hometown.”
FRRC political director Neil Volz, a Republican, said the group looks forward to working with DeSantis and state officials.
But, Volz said, “at the same time, we will continue encouraging people from all over the state who are impacted by this Amendment to register to vote at their local supervisors of elections office on January 8th.”
Melba Pearson, the interim executive director of the ACLU of Florida, was even more blunt: “On January 8, Amendment 4 goes into effect. These are the facts.”
DeSantis’s comments came after county supervisors of elections said at an annual meeting earlier this month that they weren’t getting guidance from the Florida Department of State as to how to begin implementing the new law.
Until then, there had not seemed to have been any major opposition to the law kicking in Jan. 8.
On Nov. 29, GOP state House Speaker Jose Oliva had seemingly contradicted DeSantis, saying, “The idea that we would slow walk or attempt to change an amendment to the constitution passed by the people of the state of Florida is inconsistent with our principles. The amendment is clear and the effective date is clear.”
After Thursday’s comments by DeSantis, Democratic Senate Leader Audrey Gibson said that, “As a self-proclaimed ‘constitutionalist,’ Governor-elect DeSantis should know better.” Democratic House Leader Kionne McGhee went further, saying on Twitter that his caucus will oppose any attempt by DeSantis to delay the Amendment. “This is non-negotiable,” McGhee wrote.
A prospective voter incorrectly claiming on a registration form that their rights have been restored is a criminal offense, so confusion over the Jan. 8 date could have real consequences.
But Volz, a former felon himself, insisted, “For those of us who have earned back our eligibility to vote, January 8th is going to be a celebration – one that has the support of both the Constitution and the people.”
slemongello@orlandosentinel.com, 407-418-5920, @stevelemongello, facebook/stevelemongello
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