Title: Restoration of Felons' Civil Rights

Summary: Proposing an amendment to Section 4 of Article VI of the State Constitution, relating to disqualifications from voting and holding public office, to automatically restore the voting rights and right to hold public office of felons under certain circumstances, etc.

Full Text:
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section of Article VI of the State Constitution, relating to disqualifications from voting and holding public office, to automatically restore the voting rights and right to hold public office of felons under certain circumstances. Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: That the following amendment to Section of Article VI of the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next general election or at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose: ARTICLE VI SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS SECTION 4. Disqualifications.  (a) No person convicted of a felony, or adjudicated in this or any other state to be mentally incompetent, shall be qualified to vote or hold office,except as follows: (1) If convicted of a felony of a sexual nature or a felony involving a homicide, upon restoration of civil rights. (2) If convicted of any felony not specified in paragraph (1), upon completion of sentence. (3) If adjudicated mentally incompetent, upon until restoration of civil rights or removal of disability. (b) No person may appear on the ballot for re-election to any of the following offices: (1) Florida representative, (2) Florida senator, (3) Florida Lieutenant governor, (4) any office of the Florida cabinet, (5) U.S. Representative from Florida, or (6) U.S. Senator from Florida if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served (or, but for resignation, would have served) in that office for eight consecutive years. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be placed on the ballot: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VI, SECTION AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF CERTAIN FELONS  CIVIL RIGHTS. Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to automatically restore the right to vote and hold office of a person convicted of a felony upon completion of sentence, unless the person was convicted of homicide or a sexual offense, in which case restoration of civil rights must be granted by the Board of Executive Clemency. The amendment maintains the requirement that a person declared mentally incompetent must have that disability removed before voting or holding office.