Checking the box

The process itself is simple. A prospective voter would check a box that reads, “I affirm I am not a convicted felon, or if I am, my right to vote has been restored.”

Until Amendment 4 was passed, the only way for exfelons to get their rights back was through the lengthy process of appealing to the state clemency board, which met just four times a year.

As of Jan. 8, supervisors say those rights will be restored automatically upon completion of a sentence. But that includes more than prison time. All parole and probation must be completed and all fines and restitution paid.

“As far as I’m concerned, if someone checks off the box saying they’re not a felon and had their rights restored, they can fill out the form and register to vote,” said Democrat Bill Cowles, elections supervisor for Orange County.

Osceola County’s supervisor agreed. “I don’t see what any other action needs to be taken,” said Mary Jane Arrington, a Democrat. “If a voter on the 8th of January checks that box, we will process the application.”

One issue facing supervisors, however, is what would happen if someone checks the box swearing his or her rights have been restored while still on probation or owing fines or restitution payments.

It’s not up to county elections officials to keep track of that information, they said, but the state has been slow to let them know how verification would work.

The Department of State said felony records are maintained by the Florida Commission on Offender Review, which in turn said it doesn’t maintain such records and referred comment back to the Department of State.

The commission said it only initiated an investigation once a felon applied for clemency under the old system.

That has some elections supervisors throwing up their hands.

“Our role is to accept that form and process it,” said Republican Mike Ertel, the Seminole County supervisor. “If it turns out later that someone hasn’t completed