NAACP FLORIDA STATE CONFERENCE APPLAUDS HISTORIC RULING BY U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ROBERT HINKLE

~NAACP has never wavered in the fight against felony disenfranchisement, support of Amendment 4, advocacy against legislative efforts to undue the will of the voters and continuously held felon restoration events statewide. ~

“The NAACP Florida State Conference applauds the historic ruling by Judge Hinkle clearing the way for restoring the right to vote of ex-felons, as the voters overwhelmingly declared in November 2018. This is another step protecting democracy, enhancing voting rights and ensuring the fundamental right of casting a vote. The Governor and legislative leadership should be ashamed at their repeated attacks on the right to vote. We will continue registering these new voters as we make our voices heard in the upcoming election. The NAACP Florida State Conference calls on the Governor and legislative leadership to support this ruling and forgo any additional appeal,” says Adora Obi Nweze, President of NAACP Florida State Conference and member of the National Board of Directors.

Marsha Ellison, Chair of Civic Engagement for the NAACP Florida State Conference provided powerful testimony during the hearing. “I was clear during the hearing that once a person has paid their debt to society, they should be able to vote. The NAACP Florida State Conference knew the difficulties that former prisoners faced when they returned to their communities and being forced to pay fees to cast a ballot was another low by the Governor and legislative leadership to voting rights. We know the fight continues and the NAACP Florida State Conference will continue to protect voting rights and access to voting at all levels, as continue our decades long struggle to end felony disenfranchisement,” said Ms. Ellison, who also serves as President of the NAACP Fort Lauderdale/Broward Branch and Treasurer of the NAACP Florida State Conference.

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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. In 1941, the NAACP Florida State Conference was formed as the 1st State Conference in the nation. For more information on the NAACP Florida State Conference, please visit www.FLNAACP.com or follow us on Twitter @FLNAACP.