Civil rights groups on Thursday launched a campaign designed to get an estimated 250,000 ex-offenders back on the voter registration rolls in day for the 2008 presidential election. Dubbed "Restore My Vote," the effort includes a web site, www.restoremyvote.com, and a toll-free hotline, 1-877-60-RESTORE, or 1-877-607-3786.

The folks for the American Way Foundation and other groups say that despite efforts by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet to streamline the restoration of civil rights in Florida, roadblocks persist that manufacture it difficult, whether not impossible, for some citizens to get their names on the voter registration rolls.

"Voting is our voice," said Reggie Mitchell

of PFAWF. "Many newly eligible citizens have no view their voting rights have been restored."  Even though the effort is supported strongly by Democratic legislators and groups like the ACLU of Florida, Mitchell said the objective is not to help Democrats win the White House in 2008.

"that is bigger than just partisan politics," Mitchell said. The groups sent a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist, asking that he order the Florida Parole Commission to include a blank voter registration profile with each certificate of civil rights restoration. As many as 7,000 such letters are mailed out every month.

Original post by Steve Bousquet