6/29/2004
More felons list problems
The Brennan Center is sending a letter (pdf format) to supervisers of elections warning them that their felons list may not include people who had their civil restored before 1977.
State officials have dismissed the growing outcry about problems with Florida’s felon match list by saying that, if wrongly placed on the felon match list, voters have the opportunity to cure the problem by responding to notification letters.
“That doesn’t solve the problem,” said the Brennan Center’s Jessie Allen. “Think about it. You’re a formerly incarcerated person whose civil rights were restored many years ago. You open a letter that says State records identify you as a felon who is ineligible to vote. Plus, you may know it’s a crime in Florida to vote if you know you’re ineligible. So, even if the information is wrong, even if you still have that 30-year-old certificate proving the restoration of your rights, chances are you’ll be reluctant to confront the State.”
Palm Beach Post version of the story here.
State officials have dismissed the growing outcry about problems with Florida’s felon match list by saying that, if wrongly placed on the felon match list, voters have the opportunity to cure the problem by responding to notification letters.
“That doesn’t solve the problem,” said the Brennan Center’s Jessie Allen. “Think about it. You’re a formerly incarcerated person whose civil rights were restored many years ago. You open a letter that says State records identify you as a felon who is ineligible to vote. Plus, you may know it’s a crime in Florida to vote if you know you’re ineligible. So, even if the information is wrong, even if you still have that 30-year-old certificate proving the restoration of your rights, chances are you’ll be reluctant to confront the State.”
Palm Beach Post version of the story here.
