On March 9, Florida’s four statewide state elected officials, exercising their power as members of the Clemency Board, voted to make it more difficult for ex-felons to register to vote. The old policy let ex-felons apply for a restoration of their ability to register to vote after they finish their sentences. The new rules require ex-felons to wait at least five years before even applying to register to vote. Even under the old rules, there is a considerable time lag between the time ex-felons request to register, and when they are permitted to do so. See this story.

The four members of the Clemency Board are the Governor, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Agriculture Commissioner. All four are Republicans.