Florida deprives over half a million of its citizens the right to vote because they have a felony conviction. Although these men and women have paid their debt to society by completing their sentences and supervision requirements, they are still denied the right to vote. Governor Crist championed this cause when he was running for Governor and then followed through when he was elected. The problem is that instead of automatic restoration, these citizens have to go through a cumbersome process that in many cases takes up to several years before someone’s rights are restored. Florida is one of only 14 States that do not automatically restore a person’s right to vote when they have finished their sentence.

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