Delays impede the start date of Amendment 4

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A corrections officer leads a prisoner forward. Photo via WINK News.
A corrections officer leads a prisoner forward. Photo via WINK News.

On election night, Lance Wissinger, like millions of other people celebrated the passage of Amendment 4.

“It gives me my voice back.,” Wissinger said, a convicted felon.

He served five years in state prison for DUI Manslaughter after a vehicle crash in 2003, which left his best friend dead and him severely injured.

Now he said, he is committed to serving his community as a local businessperson and volunteer.

“It was a life-changing experience that was terrible at the time that I’m trying to turn into a positive now,” Wissinger said.

He is part of a group of roughly 1.4 million convicted felons that can now register to vote because of Amendment 4.

According to its text, the Voting Restoration Amendment will take effect on Jan. 8. It applies to felons that have completed all terms of their sentence, including parole or probation, except those who were convicted of murder or sexual offenses.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Wissinger said. “I’m going to be one of the first people there that morning to be able to register to vote.”

But there is already confusion about how the state will implement Amendment 4.

Lance Wissinger is looking forward to regaining his right to vote. Photo via WINK News.
Lance Wissinger is looking forward to regaining his right to vote on Jan. 8 now that Amendment 4 has passed. Photo via WINK News.

The Division of Elections told county supervisors it is “pressing the pause button” on the process of reviewing voter’s criminal records. Both Lee and Collier Counties said its still waiting on official guidelines from the state.

But supporters of Amendment 4 argue administrative delays should not impede the right to vote.

“I don’t think there should be really, frankly any confusion,” Scott McCoy, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center. “The drafters of Amendment 4 were very careful to make sure that when they drafted it the amendment would be self executing.”

Wissinger said, he is still counting his blessings.

“I would appreciate forgiveness,” Wissinger said, “but I don’t ever expect it.”

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