John Oliver urges Floridians to vote in favor of peers deprived of their rights

Last week with John Oliver

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There is a lot to laugh at Florida, noted John Oliver during the Sunday episode. Last week tonight before starting a montage of reports featuring Florida men walking goats in the rain and running motorcycles with their feet. But according to Oliver, the most embarrassing aspect of life in the Sunshine State is the large number of citizens who are not allowed to vote.

Florida has some of the most severe laws of deprivation of rights in the country, with the result that about 1.5 million citizens (or 10% of the adult population, including one in five Black adults) can not afford it. not vote served their sentences. In his typically British perspective, Oliver noted that these people therefore suffer from a "taxation without representation," the original rallying cry of the American Revolution.

"Historically, this has been a stumbling block for America," said Oliver. "I'm pretty sure I learned that at school. Something about how the American savages threw tea in the water without even having the common decency to add a little milk.

Oliver explains that the reason Florida's marginalized population is so high is that the process of restoring the state's voting rights is particularly severe. The current Republican governor of Florida, Rick Scott ("seen here auditioning for the role of Happy Pencil in all my nightmares," by Oliver), made the process more difficult after taking office. In his system, convicts must wait five to seven years after serving their sentence before being able to claim their rights, an application that requires to go in person to Tallahassee before a panel of four, including Scott. . Needless to say, there are not many success stories.

This fall, Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum challenges Scott's reelection. But that is not all; There is also a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Florida that would restore automatic voting rights for non-violent offenders after serving their sentence. It takes at least a 60% majority to pass, so Oliver turned his office into a neon-colored parody of Florida with flamingos in order to make a direct call to the state's residents.

"I know we're making a lot of fun of you in Florida because of all the stupid things going on where you live, and you probably expect me to get away from it and appeal to your innate goodness. and for your reason. but I will not do it, "said Oliver. "Instead, I will double and suggest that it is because of this glorious stupidity that you should appreciate the value of second chances. I mean, go to Florida. You are in Florida!

After reciting even more headlines in Florida, Oliver concluded: "In Florida, in November, you have a real chance to fix a mistake and do something good for over a million people. citizens. So, please, November 6, for a single day, do not take your goat for a walk in your underwear, stay away from any bite, pull a false beard on yourself and vote on behalf of all your fellow Floridians who can not.

Watch the full video above.