Many Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, believe our government is broken. Yet this belief fails to acknowledge that our system of democracy was specifically designed so that our government reflects the people’s will. If citizens find that our government does not reflect who we are as Americans, how do we hit the reset button and find our way back to what our Founding Fathers intended?

We at Indivisible Gainesville believe that a critical first step is for all of us to speak up when the basic framework of our democracy is attacked. It shouldn’t matter where you fall along the political spectrum. When our democracy is undermined by our politicians, it is our responsibility as Americans to speak up and demand better.

In the 2018 midterm election, Floridians approved Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to ex-felons, by an impressive 65 percent majority. Far more Floridians voted for Amendment 4 than for Andrew Gillum or Bill Nelson, highlighting that this was not a partisan issue. This was one of those rare issues that had support across party lines.

When I heard that Amendment 4 passed, all I could think about was a woman I met this summer when encouraging neighbors to vote in the 2018 midterms. She informed me that she could not vote because of a felony conviction when she was very young.

After being released from a very short stint in prison, she turned her life around. She worked hard to save money, eventually opening her own beauty salon in town. She has paid taxes on her small business for over 20 years, employed countless local residents and has never gotten in trouble again. Yet she has not been able to vote in any election in her entire life. She acknowledged that this makes her feel less than her neighbors, powerless to have a say in who represents her interests in her own government.

I can only imagine the relief she must feel now that she will finally be able to vote. And her story illustrates the disenfranchisement of approximately 1.5 million other Floridians.

In the weeks since the election, we have heard grumblings that our elected state representatives will interfere with the registration of these new voters. Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said he believes the ballot language is ambiguous and needs guidance from the state Legislature, which does not convene until March.

Republican legislators are stating that they will need time to research what the amendment means. Our own state senator, Keith Perry, as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, said he plans to hold workshops to discuss implementation of Amendment 4. This is especially hypocritical coming from the same lawmaker who proposed the development of a “Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council” last year with the stated goal of streamlining government activities. So now he wants to hold workshops and create unnecessary red tape as a delay tactic instead of simply doing his job and carrying out the people’s will.

Here is the precise ballot language: “This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.” This is crystal clear. There is no ambiguity. The attempt to slow-walk implementation of Amendment 4 by our elected representatives is a brazen an attack on the people’s will. We don’t need workshops, we need immediate implementation of Amendment 4.

The people of Florida spoke loud and clear on Nov. 6 that we will no longer allow suppression of our neighbors who have served their time for past crimes. It is time for all of us, Republicans and Democrats together, to stand up and demand that our elected representatives ensure the will of the people is honored.

At Indivisible Gainesville, we have developed a set of resolutions for the new year with the intention of holding our elected officials accountable. In addition to fighting for the immediate implementation of Amendment 4, we will work toward fair congressional districting, engage community members in counties surrounding Alachua County and become more strategically involved in local politics.

If you agree that our elected officials should work to implement the will of the people, please consider joining Indivisible Gainesville this year and help ensure our voices are heard. If you are wondering what you can do immediately, call the office of Keith Perry and tell him to do his job and implement Amendment 4!

This piece was written by Stephanie Karst and other Indivisible Gainesville volunteers.