What is Amendment 4?
On November 6, 2018, Florida voters passed Voting Restoration - Amendment 4. This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they have completed all terms of their sentence, including parole or probation. This amendment does not apply to people convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless their rights have been individually restored.
For more information, visit the Division of Elections site here
If I am a felon, how do I know if my rights have been restored?
For most felony convictions in Florida:
A person is eligible to register and vote if the person has completed all terms of his or her sentence pursuant to section 4., Art. VI of the Florida Constitution. The person may alternatively apply for clemency to restore voting rights.
Completion of the sentence means:
- 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.
- A person also has the option to petition a court to terminate, upon consent of the person or entity owed, a financial obligation (i.e., fine, fee, cost, and restitution), or convert such obligation to community service. See section 98.0751(2)(a)5.e., Fla. Stat. If converted, the terms of the sentence are deemed complete when the person completes the community service.
To find out if you have completed all the terms of your sentence, please contact:
For a murder or sexual felony conviction in Florida:
A person is ineligible to vote in Florida unless and until the person’s right to vote is restored by the State Clemency Board pursuant to section 8, Art. IV of the Florida Constitution.
You may search for your eligibility or apply for your Restoration of Civil Rights through the
Florida Office of Executive Clemency:
For Out-of-State Felony convictions:
A felony conviction in another state makes a person ineligible to vote in Florida only if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted. You will need to contact the agency or agencies (in the jurisdiction(s) of conviction to determine if your right to vote has been restored by completion of all or part of the terms of your sentence, by grant of clemency after you applied for it, or by other operation of law in that jurisdiction, whichever is applicable. Agencies that you may have to contact include but are not limited to the clerk of court, corrections agency in the state of conviction and/or board or board that grants clemency).
If I was removed from the voter rolls due to a felony conviction will I automatically be registered to vote?
No. You must re-register to vote before you can participate in any election.
You may register-
In person: Clay County Supervisor of Elections Office
500 N. Orange Ave.
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Online: www.RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov (requires a Florida Driver's License or Florida ID)
By mail: The statewide voter registration application form is available for download here (in English/ en Español)
or available at any local library.
Once the registration application has been processed, we will mail you a Voter Information Card. You should receive the card within a few weeks of completing the voter registration application.
Registrations must be submitted at least 29 days prior to an election in order to be eligible to participate in that election.
How will the Supervisor of Elections Office handle voter registration applications now?
The Supervisor of Elections office will accept and process voter registration applications as usual. It is up to the individual filling out the registration application to ensure the information being supplied, including restoration of voting rights, is accurate.