#FreeTheVote Bus Tour Stops In Sarasota Friday

SARASOTA, FL — The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition brings its #FreeTheVote bus tour to Sarasota’s Newtown Estates Park, located at Newtown Blvd., Friday at 4:30 p.m.

This Sarasota stop is part of a statewide bus tour to inspire Florida’s registered returning citizens, those with past felony convictions, to vote this year. The tour recently stopped in Gainesville Oct. 24.

In 2018, two-thirds of Florida voters approved Amendment 4. This constitutional amendment restored the right to vote for people with prior non-violent felony convictions.

Since then, slightly more than 67,000 Floridians have registered to vote because of Amendment 4, Politico reported. Activists had hoped its passage would mean around 1.4 million people would register.

The amendment’s passage came with a stipulation put in place after the fact by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature. All individuals must first pay their outstanding fines and fees before they are eligible to register to vote. In a September press release, FRRC said it raised more than $20 million to help pay these fines.

“This outpouring of support for returning citizens is reminiscent of the type of support we received from people from all walks of life during our Amendment 4 campaign. Just as in our campaign, this effort is about placing people over politics,” said Desmond Meade, executive director, in the release. “The democracy that we envision is not one where an American is forced to choose between putting food on the table or voting. The ability to vote should be unencumbered and free of charge. With this effort, we are creating a more inclusive democracy that we all can be proud of.”

Sarasota’s Friday #FreeTheVote bus stop is co-hosted by Progressive Sarasota. More information can be found at the organization's Facebook event page.

“Over the past few years, all over this country, the FRRC has (banded) together to unlock barriers for the formerly incarcerated to vote,” read the group’s Facebook event description. “Because of their work, this election, many returning citizens will cast a ballot in some cases, for the first time ever. We understand the significance of this moment, and we intend to meet it.”