Governor should do more to restore ex-felons' rights

In his June 28 letter, Gov. Bush states that ''Florida isn't withholding civil rights from ex-felons.'' Yet more than 600,000 Floridians have lost the right to vote because of a past felony conviction even though they have served their time.

Florida's constitutional voting ban, a Jim Crow relic from 1868, must be overturned. But by focusing only on the state Constitution, the governor evades his responsibility to improve the rights-restoration process. Until there is constitutional reform, the governor and his cabinet can amend tomorrow, if they choose the Rules of Executive Clemency to make the restoration of the right to vote virtually automatic.

More than 85 percent of all offenders must await a hearing before the governor. Hearings take place only four times each year. At the last three, the governor heard an average of 58 rights-restoration requests and denied many. At that rate, it will take decades to address the injustice, even with the governor's recent announcement of thousands of restorations as a result of ACLU litigation.

If Bush is serious about protecting the right to vote, then he and the cabinet should immediately amend the clemency rules. He should see to it that the Department of Corrections assists every person in completing the application form. He can also lead the movement for constitutional reform.

Bush should ensure that restoration of the right to vote is respected once it is achieved. The state maintains both the clemency and voter databases. There's no excuse for inaccuracies.

Gov. Bush didn't create Florida's lifetime voting ban. But he can help bring Florida into line with the rest of the country in providing for automatic restoration of the right to vote after completion of the sentence.

COURTENAY STRICKLAND, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Miami