LETTER TO THE EDITOR / AMENDMENT 4 – LET’S NOT CELEBRATE TOO SOON

Roger C. Kostmayer

Last year, many average Florida citizens worked hard, along side a number of nonpartisan and non-profit activist organizations, to amend the state constitution. They gathered more than one million signatures to get Amendment 4 on the November 2018 ballot. The amendment restored the right to vote to about 1.5 million Floridians who, after being convicted of a felony, had paid in full their debt to society. Then, on election day last November, Floridians voted overwhelmingly (close to 65%) in favor of restoring this precious democratic right.

But, on March 25, Florida state lawmakers voted to restrict and pervert Amendment 4 in an obvious attempt to nullify the people’s voice. This political malfeasance must not be allowed to stand. Voting rights are under assault across the nation, and no democracy can survive if voter suppression succeeds and free and fair elections wither. The legislative battle isn’t over, nor is the outcome clear.

Each of us needs to ensure that those Florida politicians who were elected to represent us, must unequivocally protect the voice of the people. Our state representatives must stand up against any legislative attempt to suppress votes and defy the results of our last election.

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