Campaign to win voting rights for Florida felons enters home stretch

The bright red tour bus has been to Belle Glade, Naples and the Keys.

Emblazoned with "Let my people VOTE," it's a big rolling symbol of the campaign to pass Amendment 4 that would restore the right to vote to an estimated 1.5 million convicted felons in Florida.

Years of grass roots organizing will soon reach the finish line as millions of Florida voters decide the fate of the amendment. It requires a super-majority of 60 percent approval to become law in a midterm election dominated by hard-fought contests for governor and U.S. senator.

Approval would end Florida's long-standing outlier status as the state with the most citizens permanently barred from voting due to a felony conviction. Florida is one of four states that permanently disenfranchises felons from voting.

In a year when voters face a dizzying array of a dozen ballot questions, supporters of Amendment 4 say it has been a challenge getting an uncluttered message to voters.

But strong financial support from donors, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, has paid for a more visible campaign in recent weeks, including $5 million in advertising on TV and on social media.

Leading out-of-state donors include Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, League of Conservation Voters, Texas psychologist Laurie Michaels and the Open Philanthropy Action Fund of Palo Alto, Calif.

Political support has come from such diverse groups as Catholic bishops, the Christian Coalition of America, veterans, NFL stars such as Warrick Dunn, entertainer John Legend and a political committee funded by the conservative Koch brothers.

Amendment 4 would restore the right to vote to convicted felons who have completed all terms of their sentences, including probation and payment of restitution, while excluding those convicted of murder or felony sex crimes.

"Folks seem to know about it, and they seem to be supportive," said Desmond Meade of Oviedo, a lawyer who lost his right to vote following a felony drug conviction and who has led a pro-amendment effort known as Second Chances.

Tampa lawyer Richard Harrison, the leader of a group he created to oppose Amendment 4, says the proposal faces an uphill climb with voters.

Relying mostly on TV appearances and opinion columns to spread his vote-no message, Harrison argues that Amendment 4 is too broadly worded and treats violent and non-violent criminals the same.

"It just goes too far with blanket restoration," said Harrison, who founded Floridians for a Sensible Voting Rights Policy in 2017.

Harrison describes regularly finding expressions of opposition on social media platforms and said the multitude of ballot questions is a potential problem, too.

Former pro football players Anquan Boldin and Dunn co-authored an opinion column in favor of Amendment 4 along with former NBA player Grant Hill and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy.

"Most of these returning citizens are nonviolent offenders, or they have grown older and aged out of crime," they wrote. "Many have only one conviction. Many were convicted of offenses at relatively young ages when they were entirely different people. All have paid their debt to society."

Under Florida's current system, convicted felons must wait for at least five years after completing their sentences before they can apply for the restoration of their voting rights.

Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, remains the most visible defender of the existing system. His opponent, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, supports Amendment 4.

The candidates for governor also clash on the issue, with Democrat Andrew Gillum in support and Republican Ron DeSantis opposed.

"If you have done your time, and you've paid your debt to society, you ought to be able to re-enter society and have your constitutional right to vote and to work here in this state," Gillum said.

Contact Steve Bousquet at bousquet@tampabay.com.