State Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, offered an amendment to an omnibus elections bill that would have rolled back changes approved recently by the state Cabinet that make it harder for ex-felons to vote. #

It drew a bipartisan round of applause — not, as it turned out, because members supported it, but because it was after 10:30 at night, and Williams’ was the last of 42 amendments presented during a two-and-a-half-hour block at the end of Thursday’s seven-hour floor session. The measure failed along party lines. #

Allowing former offenders to vote without undergoing a five- to seven-year waiting period was “simply not a part of this bill,” said Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, the sponsor of House Bill 1355, which will be up for a final vote tomorrow. #