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Bill

HB 489

Restoration of Voting Rights Database

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rita Harris and 1 co-sponsor

Florida bill establishing a voting rights restoration database to track felony conviction-related voting eligibility status statewide, died in committee without passage.

Died in Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 489

Legislative bill overview

HB 489 would establish or restore a database system to track voting rights restoration for individuals with prior felony convictions in Florida. The bill aims to create a centralized mechanism for managing and verifying eligibility status as voters regain their rights through sentence completion, clemency, or other legal processes.

Why is this important

Florida has one of the nation's largest populations of citizens with felony records, making voting rights restoration administration a significant practical issue. An organized database could reduce administrative confusion, prevent erroneous voter purges, and ensure consistent application of restoration policies across counties—while also reducing barriers for eligible citizens attempting to register.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation complexity: Creating a new statewide database requires IT infrastructure investment and ongoing maintenance, raising questions about fiscal priorities and feasibility
  • Data security and privacy concerns: A centralized criminal history database tied to voting records raises questions about data protection, unauthorized access, and potential misuse
  • Policy disagreement on restoration scope: The bill's specific eligibility criteria and automatic vs. application-based restoration processes may conflict with different viewpoints on voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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