'Restore My Vote' effort underway

Civil rights groups on Thursday launched a campaign designed to get an estimated 250,000 ex-offenders back on the voter registration rolls in time for the 2008 presidential election. Dubbed "Restore My Vote," the effort includes a web site, www.restoremyvote.com, and a toll-free hotline, 1-877-60-RESTORE, or 1-877-607-3786.

The People for the American Way Foundation and other groups say that despite efforts by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet to streamline the restoration of civil rights in Florida, roadblocks persist that make it difficult, if not impossible, for some people to get their names on the voter registration rolls.

"Voting is our voice," said Reggie Mitchell of PFAWF. "Many newly eligible citizens have no idea their voting rights have been restored."  Even though the effort is supported strongly by Democratic legislators and groups like the ACLU of Florida, Mitchell said the objective is not to help Democrats win the White House in 2008.

"This is bigger than just partisan politics," Mitchell said. The groups sent a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist, asking that he order the Florida Parole Commission to include a blank voter registration form with each certificate of civil rights restoration. As many as 7,000 such letters are mailed out every month.

Comments

"Even though the effort is supported strongly by Democratic legislators and groups like the ACLU of Florida, Mitchell said the objective is not to help Democrats win the White House in 2008."
Right. And I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

This effort could come back to haunt the DEMs in the future, given the recent surge in indicted Republicans.

^5's, 2.35!!

guess the piggies will simply have to go out and arrest anyone NOT white and NOT rich....again!!

OK, but let's deny reinstatement to anyone who might vote GOP with a name that sounds like a convicted felon - names like Abramoff, Ney, DeLay, Libby...

[terminator]

well if they're that ignorant they didn't know their rights were restored they have no business voting in the first place.

thanks Charlie Crist!

we should have some sort of short and easy quiz to be able to vote. For example, name the president, vice president, your state's governor and your state's 2 US senators. If you can't do that, you don't vote. period.

I bet at least 30-40% of the population wouldn't pass.

[Omega83]

why do we make things so easy for people? c'mon, not that I really mind the voter reg forms with the certificates of resotration, but these people, if they so desire to be reaccepted into society, should have enough werewithal to figure out - on their own- how to register...there is no more excuse for such laziness in today's world. I, for one, am tired of it.

the reason PFAWF wants to make it so easy is because felons tend to vote for democrats.

Most felons, upon receiving a restoration of rights notice, would probably go buy a gun.

If we tell them their rights are restored and the right to vote is one that is neither missed nor appreciated, I hope they do not vote.

Who is that? The Democrats demanding that their Party count their votes instead of disenfranchising them by ignoring our Primary?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

To the Democrats:

Set your own house in order first. In your Party the law abiding aren’t counted, why worry about the law breakers?

Who care who gets to vote, just as long as the homertesticles get to marry!