To minimize the impact of SB 7066 on Amendment 4, the League of Women Voters of Florida has launched training programs for attorneys and other non-lawyer volunteers willing to assist returning citizens avoid penalties when they register to vote.

Voters approved Amendment 4 in November, which restored the voting rights of those with a felony conviction, excluding murder or felony sex offenses. Within months the Legislature passed SB 7066, which restricts the ability of returning citizens to register to vote. The restrictions will have a disproportionate impact on African-American citizens. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated he will sign the bill.

If signed, the proposed law will take effect July 1. The League will hold events throughout Florida on June 15th and June 29th.

The Florida Bar has approved the training for two Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit hours and accreditation from the American Bar Association is pending. Lawyers and others seeking to take the training may sign up at: bit.ly/implementationcle

In addition to seeking volunteer lawyers for this effort, the League is seeking information about community events (job fairs, community Juneteenth celebrations, etc.) that returning citizens may be likely to attend. Clinics would be set up before the events to train lawyers in order to help returning citizens.

The League will hold voter registration events where lawyers who receive the CLE training can assist in researching the status of people’s sentences in Tallahassee, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, and Panama City on June 15.

For more information, contact League Rights Restoration Chair Cecile Scoon at cecile@lwvfl.org. Click here for a list of events times and locations.