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By DARA KAM
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

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THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 6, 2017......... For some, Desmond Meade is the epitome of convicted felons who've turned their lives around.

The onetime drug addict, who was homeless after being released from prison in 2004, has a law degree and devoted much of the past five years in helping others.

But Meade, 49, still suffers from a condition that keeps him, in his words, "from being whole again."

He can't vote.

Meade watched Monday as the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments on the "Voting Restoration Amendment," a proposed constitutional amendment that would give voting rights to convicted felons like the Orlando resident.

Meade is the chairman of "Floridians for a Fair Democracy," the political committee backing the ballot initiative, also endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

"It's a cloak of shame," Meade said after Monday's arguments, referring to the inability to vote. "To be constantly reminded, especially during election season, that yes, you're good enough to be successful. You're good overcome obstacles. But you're not good enough to have your voice heard."

The "Voter Restoration Amendment" would automatically restore voting rights for all nonviolent felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Felons convicted of violent crimes, such as murder, would not be eligible. The amendment would go on next year's ballot, if the Supreme Court approves the wording and supporters can gather enough signatures before the February 2018 deadline.

The Supreme Court will decide whether the proposal meets the constitutional "single-subject" requirement and is not confusing or misleading to voters, something lawyer Jon Mills, representing the committee backing the plan, said is an easy call.

"This initiative is rather narrow. It actually simply provides that it restores the right to vote to individuals with felony convictions, excluding convictions for murder and felony sexual offenses," said Mills, a constitutional law professor and former state House speaker.

If the Supreme Court clears the proposal, supporters still have to submit about 766,000 petition signatures to get it on the 2018 ballot, an often expensive and labor-intensive effort.

Meade said his group had relied solely on volunteers to obtain more than 70,000 petitions that triggered the high court review.