1.5 Million Ex-Felons Can Now Register to Vote in Florida.
BOLDUAN: Right now, the new governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, is being sworn into office as we speak. He's coming into office just as more than a million new voters will be able to vote in the state's elections. Why is that? Starting today, most ex-felons will be able to register to vote, and it could reshape the political landscape in that very important state. CNN correspondent, Rosa Flores, is in Florida with more.</s>ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rashawn Welch turned his life around in the nearly five years he spent in federal prison for bank fraud. Now he is a successful entrepreneur in Miami.</s>RASHAWN WELCH, EX-FELON: Now I'm able to get these young men who had a bad path to be able to change their life now.</s>FLORES: But one thing has been out of his reach ever since his conviction, the right to vote. Something forbidden for felons under Florida law until now. The Sunshine State overwhelmingly approved an amendment allowing an estimated 1.5 million felons who have served their sentences and any probation or parole to register to vote, starting today. The new rights don't apply to those convicted of murder or violent sexual offenses. So 1.5 million new voters in a state already infamous for razor thin margin elections and nail-biting recounts.</s>CHARLES ZELDEN, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: We are the swingiest of swing states.</s>FLORES: Political science professor, Charles Zelden, says Amendment IV had the potential to dramatically alter Florida's political landscape.</s>ZELDEN: It doesn't matter what party they are because this potentially changes the political dynamic across the state in every county, in every voting district.</s>FLORES: But that no one knows for sure what such a massive potential increase to the voter rolls in such a short amount of time will mean for the political establishment. And that's why Zelden says politicians are rattled.</s>ZELDEN: They are literally an unknown, which is why the politicians are scared.</s>FLORES: The ACLU of Florida, which spearheaded the statewide effort, said getting Amendment IV passed was a battle that transcended party politics.</s>MELBA PEARSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ACLU OF FLORIDA: This was truly a nonpartisan issue.</s>FLORES: But acknowledged it's the parties that stand to benefit the fruits of the ACLU's efforts.</s>PEARSON: This is an equal opportunity amendment, and whoever takes advantage of it is who may see a change in the coming years.</s>FLORES: As for Rashawn Welch, he doesn't plan to waste any time in exercising his new right.</s>WELCH: I'm excited to go vote tomorrow. And not only will I go register to vote, I'm going to take some people with me.</s>FLORES: And Rashawn Welch kept his word. Take a look at this video. He just registered to vote moments ago. Our cameras were rolling. He had some youth with him as well. And, Kate, we have spoken with both parties here in Florida, and they tell me that they're going to be zeroing in on this new group of freshly new voters ahead of 2020 -- Kate?