Supervisor of Elections office Amendment 4 enactment

CRESTVIEW —The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections offices are preparing for the Jan. 8 enactment of Amendment 4 – the Voting Restoration Amendment approved by Florida voters in the November general election.

Both offices will be accepting new voter registration applications, including applications by former convicted felons who will be eligible to register beginning Jan. 8. Voters removed from the voter rolls due to a felony conviction must re-register after that date. Any applications received prior to January 8, 2019 will be processed according to the law currently on the books and may not be eligible. 

A majority of convicted felons in Florida who have completed their sentences, including parole and probation, will be eligible to have their voting rights automatically restored.

Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses will not be eligible unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights through the clemency process currently in place.

Individuals unsure of their status should contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where they were sentenced or the Florida Department of Corrections where they were supervised or incarcerated.

Individuals may search or apply for Restoration of Civil Rights through the Florida Commission on Offender Review, Office of Executive Clemency.

The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections will continue voter registration and education efforts. They will also continue support of community groups and third party voter registration organizations to encourage and assist individuals who will become newly eligible in January.

Call 689-5600 or 651-7272, the OCSOE offices, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Supervisor of Elections office Amendment 4 enactment