Florida voters approved Amendment 4 in the 2018 General Election, restoring voting rights for individuals with prior felony convictions who have completed their sentences, including prison or jail time, parole, probation, or other forms of supervision and payment of the total amount of all fines, fees, costs and restitution ordered as part of the felony sentence. The terms of the constitutional amendment, which went into effect in 2019, exclude anyone convicted of murder or a felony sex offense, unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore voting rights for those individuals. The eligibility requirements to restore voting rights are found in Florida law, section 4, Article VI, Florida Constitution, and section 98.0751, Fla. Stat.
How do I find out if I am eligible to vote under the terms of Amendment 4?
It is the responsibility of the individual to determine if his or her voting rights have been restored. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony and are unsure if all terms of their sentence have been completed may find information on the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where they were sentenced, or by contacting the Florida Department of Corrections. Individuals may also contact the Florida Commission on Offender Review (Office of Executive Clemency), or if an individual is still unsure about fines, fees, costs, and restitution, and the impact upon restoration of voting rights, he or she can ask for an advisory opinion from the Florida Division of Elections.
How do I find out if I am eligible to vote under Amendment 4?
Individuals who have been convicted of a felony and are unsure if their sentences have been completed may find information on the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where they were sentenced or by contacting the Florida Department of Corrections where they were incarcerated and/or supervised. When registering to vote, individuals must complete a voter registration application, which includes an affirmation that if a person has been convicted of a felony, his or her right to vote has been restored.
Additional Resources
Individuals with prior felony convictions are urged to use the resources below to confirm all sentencing terms have been completed (and rights restored) before completing a voter registration application.
How will the supervisor of elections handle voter registration applications under Amendment 4?
The elections office accepts and processes voter registration applications, as usual, including from individu-als with prior felony convictions who are eligible to register pursuant to the terms of Amendment 4. Individu-als who have previously been removed from the voter rolls due to a felony conviction and whose voting rights have since been restored would need to re-apply to register to vote again.
How do I register to vote?
You may apply for voter registration by completing a Florida Voter Registration Application and submitting it to the Supervisor of Elections office. You can also submit an online application at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or register to vote at the Tax Collector’s office while getting a driver license or identification card. Applications are also available at public assistance offices, centers for independent living, offices serving persons with dis-abilities, public libraries and armed forces recruitment offices. IMPORTANT: When registering to vote, individuals must complete a voter registration application, which includes an affirmation that if a person has been convicted of a felony, his or her right to vote has been restored.
For more information, please call 941.861.8619 or email voterservices@sarasotavotes.gov.