Convicted lawmaker files bill for felons' vote

[DoYouEverWonder]

December 27, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - State Sen. Gary Siplin lost his right to vote in elections because he's a convicted felon. But he can still vote in the Florida Legislature and he is trying to make sure he and other felons automatically get their rights back after they finish their sentence.

Siplin, D-Orlando, introduced a bill last week that would change the state's long-standing constitutional ban on felon voting. Now, the state's clemency board has to hear each case to decide whether to restore the rights, a process that can take months or years.

"It probably wasn't the smartest bill for Gary to file," said Senate Minority Leader Steven Geller, D-Cooper City.

"He would be well served to leave it to Sen. (Mandy) Dawson, who has been the champion of that legislation," said Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie.

Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, filed a similar bill (SB 202) a week before Siplin, the first Florida legislator to remain in office after a felony conviction .

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/27/State/Convicted_lawmaker_fi.shtml


So in Florida, a convicted felon can't vote but you can still be a legislator. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

[acmavm]

1. I thought that it was required that the republicans in the Florida

legislature be felons. Silly me.