Two-thirds of Florida voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that restores voting rights to certain felons who have completed the terms of their sentences. It is an extraordinary measure that could have major implications in a state that always seems to vote 51-49 on just about anything. Given how many minorities are living under felony drug possession convictions, this has the possibility of changing the nature of Florida elections.
Now - in a move that should shock exactly no one - the Republican governor and Secretary of State are talking about not implementing the amendment until the legislature weighs in. The point of the referendum was to remove the legislature from the equation. As someone in the article says, it should be self-executing.
Ultimately, as so often is the case in our modern republic, the courts will have to weigh in so that American citizens can vote. Of course, Republicans have been stacking the courts with ideologues.
It's Florida. It's elections.
Did anyone think this would be easy?
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