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LEFT: Kelly Williams (co-chair, Restoration of Voting Rights for Returning Citizens Action Team), Irene Dec (facilitator for RC Steering Committee), Debbie Chandler (co-chair), Al Johnson (chief assistant state attorney), Nellie King (NACDL president), Nick Nunn (lead counsel, FRRC), Kathi Gundlach (president, LWVPBC), Cecile Scoon (president, LWVFL) and Dan Eisinger (chief assistant public defender).

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RIGHT: Nunn, King, Johnson and Eisinger.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION:

Restoration of Voting Rights for Returning Citizens

By Debra Chandler, Returning Citizens Action Team Co-chair

LWVPBC and LWVFL joined forces on March 29 to educate and inform on the plight of returning citizens. Felons who have completed their sentences are still intimidated into foregoing their franchise.

LWVFL President Cecile Scoon and LWVPBC President Kathi Gundlach introduced a panel of experts, including State Attorney Chief Assistant Al Johnson, and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Lead Counsel Nick Nunn, who explained the hurdles facing those wanting to register to vote. Nellie King, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, announced the creation of a committee of criminal defense attorneys to combat the criminalization of election laws nationwide, and Public Defender Chief Assistant Dan Eisinger talked of the emotions felt by his clients who only want to join society.

The panel agreed that voting rights are under attack and more needs to be done to bring returning citizens back into society as full members. With Florida as the petri dish of voter suppression laws nationwide, diverse and often opposing organizations are coming together to fight for voting rights, especially here in Palm Beach County.

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