Florida is among the three states with the most severe felony disenfranchisement laws. Florida requires felons to have completed sentencing, parole and/or probation, and then seven years later, to apply individually for restoration of voting privileges. As in other aspects of the criminal justice system, this law has disproportionate effects for minorities. As a result, according to Brent Staples, based on data from The Sentencing Project, the effect of Florida's law is such that in 2014 "[m]ore than one in ten Floridians – and nearly one in four African-American Floridians – are shut out of the polls because of felony convictions." COUNT 4
QSN1 How severe are Florida disenfranchisement laws  ANS1 Florida is among the three states with the most severe felony disenfranchisement laws. QSN2 What doe s the law require for criminals  ANS2 felons to have completed sentencing, parole and/or probation, and then seven years later, to apply individually for restoration of voting privileges QSN3 Who does this law effect most  ANS3 this law has disproportionate effects for minorities QSN4 How does it effect elections  ANS4 one in ten Floridians – and nearly one in four African-American Floridians – are shut out of the polls because of felony convictions