In the 2012 Presidential elections, a group of over 1.4 million Floridians did not show up at the polls. It had nothing to do with voter apathy or with literacy. In fact, many of those people wanted to take part in the vote. They had IDs, were documented Floridians and had strong opinions.

They also had a criminal record.

Americans are generous when it comes to charity - about $335 billion was donated last year - and around the holidays is when many charities receive their biggest bumps. But when you donate to your local food bank or shelter, do you ever stop to think about the system that creates the needs for such charities? Or that there are companies making money off keeping people poor, hungry and desperate?

For pro-immigration reform advocates and undocumented workers, the results of the Senate race were viewed through the lens of immigration reform. Democrats were at odds over immigration reform this campaign season, as President Barack Obama – cowing to Republicans’ extreme politicization of the issue – decided to delay immigration reform until after the elections. Some candidates lobbied against action in hopes it would help save the Senate, while others saw his decision as jeopardizing their support of Latino voters. Immigration reform advocate Luis Gutiérrez told the Guardian that the postponement was based upon a mistaken focus on the potential impact on “conservative voters and conservative states”.