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1 RESOLUTION NO. ____ _
2 A Resolution urging and encouraging the Florida Legislature to repeal all laws
3 which deny the restoration of voting rights.
4 WHEREAS, on March 9, 2011, the Florida Rules of Executive Clemency were
5 toughened, as the automatic restoration of civil rights and the ability to vote was no longer
6 granted for any convicted criminal offense; and
7 WHEREAS, currently, all individuals convicted of any felony now need to apply for
8 executive clemency after a five-year waiting period, and individuals convicted of certain
9 felonies, such as murder, assault, child abuse, drug trafficking and arson are subject to a seven-
10 year waiting period and a clemency board hearing to determine whether or not the ability to
11 vote will be restored; and
12 WHEREAS, in 2010, an estimated 5.85 million people in the United States could not
13 vote due to a felony conviction, an increase from the 2004 total of 5.26 million and the highest
14 number since at least 1960; and
15 WHEREAS, as of 2010, Florida has disenfranchised 1,541,602 citizens due to a felony
16 conviction, which amounts to the disenfranchisement of 10.42% of the state's voting age
17 population and 23.3% of Florida's African-American voting age population, the highest in the
18 nation; and
19 WHEREAS, in 38 states, most felons get voting rights restored automatically upon
20 completion of his or her sentence, with some states making an exception for violent crimes; and
21 WHEREAS, once an individual has served his or her time, the scarlet letter precluding
22 the participation in our democracy should be removed from his or her head; and
23 WHEREAS, those involved in the restoration of one's voting rights have experienced
24 ex-felons who want to become involved in their communities, want to be able to cast their vote
25 in an election and want to have a say in the government to make a difference in a very positive
26 manner; and
27 WHEREAS, many believe that the only reason not to let felons vote is to stigmatize
28 them or to continue punishing them, and if allowed to vote, they would be less likely to return
29 to prison and more likely to become reintegrated into their communities; and
30 WHEREAS, voting is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of our democracy, yet
31 millions of Americans have had their right to vote revoked for periods ranging from the time
32 spent incarcerated to a lifetime; and
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WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission believe that the automatic restoration of
voting rights will give a person a meaningful way to re-enter society, allow them to participate
in our democracy, and incentivize good behavior.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. That the City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida, hereby
strongly urge the Florida State Legislature to repeal all legislation that denies the restoration of
voting.
Section 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit an electronic copy of this
Resolution to: Governor Rick Scott; all State Representatives and State Senators; Michael Sittig,
Executive Director of the Florida League of Cities, Inc.; Richard Kuper, Esquire, Executive
Director of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Inc.; and to the presiding Officers and
Council members of the municipalities in Miami-Dade County.
Section 3. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida,
hereby direct the City'S state lobbyist to advocate for legislation set forth in Section 1.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of ____ , 2013.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM
LANGUAGE, EXECUTION AND
LEGALITY:
CITY ATTORNEY
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Approved:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Liebman:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Harris:
Commissioner Welsh: