Democrats say Amendment 4 would create "1.6 million new Democratic voters"

The most controversial measure on the ballot in Florida this election cycle is the Voter Restoration Amendment, or Amendment 4.

If Amendment 4 passes, will some of the most hardened criminals, those convicted of “murder or sexual offenses,” be eligible to regain their voting rights?

Here is the exact text that is on the ballot:

This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.  The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.

Republicans fear that if felons are able to vote, that they would vote Democratic. Democrats have contended that Republicans are paranoid and that the 1.6 million convicted felons, who could be eligible to vote, many would vote Republican.

But now the cat may have been let out of the bag, so to speak.

Jeremy Ring (D), who is running for CFO against Republican Jimmy Patronis, may have let out a secret Democratic Party strategy for 2018.

Ring addressed attendees of a rally in Fort Lauderdale, telling them that if Democrats like himself and Andrew Gillum managed to win their respective statewide races on November 6, his “team” would “put 1.6 million new Democratic voters on the rolls right there and then.”

2020 is going to be a big deal. It will be the most important election. 2018 is to get ready and set the foundation for 2020. There are 1.6 non-violent ex-felons that do not have their rights to vote. If Rick Scott believed for one second that all of these individuals were Republican, he would have restored their rights 8 years ago.

On the very first meeting, we can take Amendment 4, assuming even if it passes, and we can codify right there and in one meeting, in one content agreement, our team will put 1.6 million new Democratic voters on the rolls right there and then. -Jeremy Ring (D)

Ring’s remark was caught on video by David Rosen of The United West.