State Attorney Brian Kramer announces new voter program to curb election crime offenses

A Florida State Attorney is partnering with Supervisors of Elections to reduce confusion amid Amendment 4, while curbing the potential for voter fraud.

Brian Kramer, state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, announced on Tuesday a new voter education program that aims to make voting for previously convicted felons less daunting by ensuring that they’re voting legally.

Dubbed the “V8th program,” Kramer said Tuesday he hopes the program will allow ex-felons impacted by the back-and-forth changes of Amendment 4 to avoid choosing between continuing to be disenfranchised and risking logging a new felony offense by voting.

“The purpose of this program is to make sure that people have a way of knowing ‘Is my sentence complete to the point where I am eligible to vote again,’” said Kramer during his Tuesday press conference.

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Passing of Amendment 4 was passed to restore voting rights for formerly convicted felons who completed their sentencing — with exemption to sex offenders and violent crimes — but has resulted in some people voting illegally due to changes made by the Republican-led Legislature that challenged the ballot measure, forcing people to pay all fines and fees related to past sentencing without ever creating a system for people to check outstanding penalties.

The changes and mixed messaging created mass confusion for the voters the amendment was supposed to help.

“One can understand that when somebody is sentenced to jail or prison, it isn’t probably the focus of that person at that moment to ascertain all the financial obligations that might come from the fact that they’ve received that sentence,” Kramer said. “If someone has completed a sentence that involves both incarceration and probation, it might be reasonable to for that person to believe that that was everything they had to do."

That hasn't stop Kramer's office from prosecuting those who unknowingly voted illegally.

At least 10 people were recently charged with felony election-related crimes in Alachua County, all of which inmates at the county jail at the time.

While the question of voter eligibility for previously convicted persons still largely remains an issue throughout Florida, Kramer believes his region, which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties, has an available answer.

Those who would like to know whether they’ve satisfied all the requirements of their sentence prior to voting may now visit the state attorney’s website for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, complete a V8th application and submit it person.

Following submission, the 8th Circuit State Attorney’s Office says it will make a good faith effort to confirm whether an individual is eligible to vote by issuing a letter that states their findings.

That letter will state whether an ex-felon is eligible to vote in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, ineligible to vote, or if their status cannot be determined, according to information on the state attorney for the 8th circuit’s website.

“We tried to make it simple as possible. Go to the website, fill out the application form, bring it to us, and we take it from there,” Kramer said. “There really isn’t anything else for them to do.”

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition responded last month launched an election integrity campaign in response to an increase in arrests for voter fraud made in Alachua County and in surrounding areas. The move also comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an elections fraud task force in April.

The coalition argues that voting rights for felons released from prison are unclear and unjust.

“Unfortunately, the state's confusing voter system for returning citizens (formerly convicted persons) has impacted the most vulnerable voters in the system,” according to a press release issued by FRRC, a grassroots organization to help people who have been disenfranchised and discriminated against.

To submit an application or for more information on the V8th program, please visit www.sao8.org/Vote8thFAQ.html.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida state attorney's V8th program to help convicted felons vote