TAMPA, Fla. — Florida voters will soon decide whether some felons should automatically have their voting rights restored.
- Amendment 4 restores voting rights for many felons
- Felons must complete their sentences
- Can't be convicted of sex crimes or murder
- DECISION 2018: How to vote in Florida | Voting Guide
Amendment 4 would require voting rights restoration for many felons who have completed their sentences.
Felons who were convicted of murder or sex crimes would not be eligible.
Right now all felons have to wait five to seven years before they can go before the Florida Cabinet to ask for their voting rights back.
Mike Bivens is among the Bay area residents trying to have his voting rights restored.
"I remember voting once or twice when I was younger," said Bivens, who had his voting rights stripped away after a prison stint on felony drug charges. "We should have our voting rights restored after you serve your time."
Current Florida law bars all felons from voting unless there is a special approval from the state. Amendment 4 would restore the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence.
But not everyone is on board with the idea.
"We don’t think Amendment 4 is a good idea," said Richard Harrison with Floridians for Sensible Voting Rights Policy.
Harrison said the restoration of voting should continue to be done on a case-by-case basis.
"If you’ve been in prison, have you stayed out of trouble, if you’ve been released from prison have you stayed out of trouble, tell me your story," Harrison said. "And show me that you’ve changed."
Bivens said he is turning his life around and is working to become a truck driver.
If passed, Amendment 4 would impact nearly 1.5 million people who don't have the right to vote in Florida.