If voters speak, do our lawmakers listen?
The choice was loud and clear when nearly 65 percent of Florida voters approved restoring the voting rights of more than 1 million ex-convicts who have served their sentences, with the exception of those convicted of murder and felony sex offenses.
Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis told the Palm Beach Post the amendment shouldn't take effect until lawmakers pass so-called "implementing language," which he would then sign.
Amendment 4 supporters disagree, saying that what voters approved in November clearly stated it should take effect in January without the need for additional legislative measures.
"It's right there in black and white and the people have spoken," said 10News political expert Lars Hafner.
A legal showdown would likely come next, Hafner said.
"If the legislature starts to slow walk this there will be a lot of lawsuits," he said. "People will come in and say the people have spoken and the Legislature is trying to thwart the will of the people."
DeSantis’s comments to the Post come as county supervisors of elections have said they aren't getting guidance from the Florida Department of State on how to implement the new law.
The wrangling might also ring a bell for Florida voters still waiting on a medical marijuana law that fits what an even larger majority of voters—71 percent—approved in 2016.
"The people who also put medical marijuana on the ballot, who put [Amendment 4] on, knew what happened with that so they decided to be as specific as they could," Hafner said.
The move could leave former felons waiting months because the new legislative session doesn't begin until March 5. That could keep several potentially eligible voters from casting a ballot in the Tampa mayoral race.
Advocates with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition are still encouraging people to register to vote starting Jan. 8.
“Amendment 4 was and remains about people, not politics," FRRC Executive Director Desmond Meade said in a post on the coalition's Facebook page. "We are confident that the language is clear and that this Amendment does not require enabling legislation.”
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