Florida sort of defines the term "swing state." The smallest of variables can push the outcome of Florida's elections in one direction or another - in the year 2000 it was "hanging chads" and more recently it appeared it would be the re-enfranchisement of former felons. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 4, which restored the voting rights of most felons who had completed their sentences. This was a particularly important turn of events given the massive number of Floridians who could not vote due to felony convictions. Republican leadership in the state, however, has been working tirelessly to undermine the will of the people by making it harder for the formerly incarcerated to exercise their franchise. Some of the obstacles that have been erected include a requirement to clear all debts in order to vote - some former felons have actually been criminally prosecuted for voting without paying what in effect amounts to a poll tax. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to journalist Bianca Fortis who has written an investigative piece chronicling right wing efforts to keep Florida’s most vulnerable populations from participating in the democratic process. Then we dip into the archives to listen to our 2020 discussion with groundbreaking health physicist and nuclear expert, Hattie Carwell.
Track: Glad Artist: Traffic Album: John Barleycorn Must Die Label: Island Year: 1970 Track: Born In The USA Artist: Bruce Springsteen Album: Bridge School Benefit Label: N/A Year: 1986 Track: The Revolution Starts Now Artist: Steve Earle Album: The Revolution Starts Now Label: Artemis Year: 2004