Fla. to Purge Felons From Voter Lists...again

[Q]

(We have a right to vote...but not to have those votes counted)

Fla. to Purge Felons From Voter Lists

Thu May 6, 7:06 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida has ordered a statewide purge of freed felons from its voter roles, an election-year directive that some say would disenfranchise up to 40,000 people.

Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said Thursday that Gov. Jeb Bush's administration was simply complying with federal election law, and the secretary of state's office said safeguards were in place to prevent targeting the wrong people.

The issue of felon voting surfaced from Florida's 2000 presidential recount that resulted in George W. Bush capturing the White House. The governor's older brother won Florida's pivotal 25 electoral votes by 537 votes out of more than 6 million cast.

Critics said Florida used out-of-state lists in 2000 to purge freed felons, taking their voting rights away although they had been restored in the state where their crimes were committed. Florida is among a handful of states that does not automatically restore the voting rights of convicted criminals once they leave prison.

Others complained they were erroneously purged from the rolls because their name was identical or similar to that of a felon. Critics said blacks, who as a group voted more heavily for Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites), were disproportionately affected.

Since the 2000 election, the secretary of state's office has been moved from Cabinet status in Florida to an agency under the Republican governor.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040506/ap_on_re_us/florida_voter_rolls_1

[lovedems]

1. Is there going to be outrage? Are there organizations who are going

to fight this to make sure it is done correctly? I know Florida learned a lesson in that it works but haven't the voters learned a lesson too? Surely there are groups that will fight this. Yes? No?

[rexcat]

2. Looks like Jeb is getting ready to deliver FL to W...

The fix has started!

[Karenina]

6. Have the voters who were "purged"

in 2000 had their rights restored yet? :shrug:

[noonwitch]

3. My state doesn't allow convicted felons to vote (MI)

The problem I had with Florida's purge in 2000 is that they purged people who had no criminal record because they had similar names, ss numbers or DOBs to people on the list. These mistakes affected African american voters at a higher percentage than other groups.

[beyurslf]

4. The problem with not allowing felons to vote

is that they have already paid their debt to society once they are out of prison and off parole. Once they do this, why can they not vote? It seems unfair (and un constitutional) to continue to punish them beyond this.

[wuushew]

5. It seems even more unfair when you consider that in several states

they get their 2nd ammendment rights back but not their voting rights.

[amandabeech]

7. Are you sure about Michigan, noonwitch?

I grew up in Michigan myself, and just did a google. It looks like things have changed and felons may vote once they are out of prison. I hope the googled sites are right! Michigan used to be a pretty progressive place, even though now there seems to be something of a struggle with the arch-conservatives in the western side of the state.

What Florida, and other states do, is disgraceful. There should be some way for people who have paid their debt to society to regain the vote if it isn't automatic.