Florida Restores Voting Rights for Felons

In a landmark win for voting-rights advocates, Floridians on Tuesday approved Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to approximately 1.5 million convicted felons who have completed their parole and probation. Prior to Tuesday night, Florida was one of just 4 states that permanently banned individuals from voting if they were convicted of a felony. But with the passage of Amendment 4, these felons—except those convicted of murder or sexual offenses—can now put their names back on the rolls. “We all believe, deep down, that when a debt is paid, it’s paid,” a voting-rights advocate previously told The Daily Beast. “That’s a value that people support.”