filed under Election 2008 | Social Justice
Ex-Offenders Voice their Votes in FL
1:16AM ON
02/01/2008
BY
Ariel Werner
For a lot of people voting is routine but not for Lisa Burford.
She has not been able to vote for nearly 20 years. But last year, the Palm Beach County woman met with Gov. Charlie Crist and asked him to help her get back her civil rights. In September, Crist and the rest of the state Clemency Board, gave back to the mother of four her right to vote. Today, she sent an email to Crist saying simply - “I VOTED.”
Burford, was 24, when she was convicted of a felony for pilfering money from a bank where she worked as a young woman. She spent 30 days in jail. Her life as a wife and mother has been normal since then, but her desire to be a nurse has been unattainable because a felon cannot get a nursing license. Other career goals also have been stymied because of the conviction. And she could not vote. Now she can.
FYI: Bush might not be in office had ex-felons had voting rights 8 years ago.
Write a Comment