Mark Schlakman
Floridaâs Clemency Board didnât actually do much to help felons regain the right to vote | Column
The newest reforms appear to be far less than they may have seemed.
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Florida s Cabinet: From left, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. Its members met as the Clemency Board last week. [ News Service of Florida ]
Published Mar. 15
Updated Mar. 15
Floridaâs Board of Executive Clemency seemed to advance major reforms last week regarding how most people who have served felony sentences can regain their civil rights. But what really happened? The news, it appears, is less than it seemed.
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved major changes to the state’s clemency process on Wednesday that automatically restore the right to hold office and serve on a jury for Floridians with felony convictions who have completed their sentence and paid off their court debts. The changes,
People convicted of felonies will no longer have to wait five years after their release to be able to vote in the state, though advocates are pushing for more.
There were sweeping changes to the states clemency process approved Wednesday.
Floridians with past felony convictions will now have an easier time getting their rights back.
It reverses a decade long policy of delay.
New clemency rules create an automatic pathway to restore felons right to serve on a jury and hold public office, as long as they qualify for voting rights restoration under Amendment 4.
“It makes sense to also restore the other civil rights,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
As with automatic restoration of voting rights, felons would still need to complete all terms of their sentence, including payment of fines, fees and restitution to qualify for automatic restoration of the right to serve on a jury and hold public office.