Restoring Rights: Practical Guidance for Supporting Returning Citizens Workshop
*A returning citizen is someone in Florida who has completed any incarceration, probation, or parole portion of their felony sentence and is seeking restoration of their civil and voting rights.
Restoring voting rights after a felony conviction in Florida remains a complex and often confusing process. As the League of Women Voters of Florida continues to advocate for every citizen’s right to vote without fear, it is essential that the public understand the facts, the legal landscape, and how to effectively support returning citizens.
Join us for a practical, hands‑on workshop designed to help volunteers confidently assist returning citizens as they navigate the process of restoring their voting rights. Cecile Scoon, a respected civil rights attorney and past president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, will break down who is eligible under Florida law, how to help individuals find accurate information about their status, and how to guide them through voter registration without offering legal advice. Participants will learn best practices, real‑world scenarios, and key resources to ensure every interaction is supportive, respectful, and empowering.
This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to better serve returning citizens and support their path back to full participation in our democracy.
Our Speaker:
Cecile Scoon will outline the obstacles returning citizens face, explain the current legal framework, and offer clear strategies for providing accurate guidance and directing individuals to the appropriate resources when additional help is needed.
Scoon brings deep expertise and a distinguished record of leadership. The first Black woman to serve as president of the Florida League, she guided the organization through years of intense voting‑rights battles and redistricting fights. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Scoon began her career as an assistant staff judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force and now serves as managing principal of Peters & Scoon Attorneys at Law in Panama City. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a life member of the Bay County NAACP.
