Judge strikes down Florida's law demanding felons pay all court debt before they can vote

[turbinetree]

Source: Raw Story

Published 1 min ago on May 24, 2020
By Sarah K. Burris



Florida passed a ballot initiative allowing all former felons the access to vote after they served their time. In a panic, Republicans worked to find ways to restrict it, passing a law that mandated felons pay their court debts before they are allowed to vote.

Akin to a poll tax, the judge in the case ruled the Florida law unconstitutional.

“(a) The system is unconstitutional as applied to individuals who are otherwise eligible to vote but are genuinely unable to pay the required amount. (b) The requirement to pay, as a condition of voting, amounts that are unknown and cannot be determined with diligence is unconstitutional. (c) The requirement to pay fees and costs as a condition of voting is unconstitutional because they are, in substance, taxes,” the filing says.

You can read the excerpt of the ruling below:

Link to tweet

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Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2020/05/judge-strikes-down-floridas-law-demanding-felons-pay-all-court-debt-before-they-can-vote/

[jls4561]

1. So Rick Scott can vote now?

[jimfields33]

2. I'm sure this goes to Supreme Court

[CaptainTruth]

11. I don't think so. The judge ruled it violates the FL state constitution.

This is a FL state-specific issue, not a federal one. If it violates the state constitution, the state can't do it, period. The highest it can go is state supreme court.

There are other examples of this, gerrymandering occurs to me. SCOTUS ruled certain gerrymandering practices are legal under the federal constitution, but one state ruled they violate that state's constitution, so you can't do them in that state, regardless of what SCOTUS says.

[jimfields33]

17. That's great news.

[grantcart]

14. Doubtful. No fed issues here.

[LanternWaste]

22. What specifically leads you to believe that...?

[jimfields33]

23. What is this about? When was this thread started?

I didn’t even post to you today.

[mitch96]

3. Pole tax not Pole cat......... he's so despicable makes me wanna puke........ nt

[Gothmog]

9. It is poll tax

[Bengus81]

4. If you can keep a felon from voting guess which State has the highest disenfranchisement rate?

Gosh did you guess Florida? DING DING DING!!! Trump, DeSantis and Scott are working overtime.

Stop felons who have done their time
Stop mail in ballots.


What's next, can't vote if you don't drive a Ford?

[Maxheader]

5. Wingers tie up the courts with bullshit laws..

Same as in kansaas when brownbutt was the guv..

[voteearlyvoteoften]

6. My brother hasn't been able to vote for over 30 years

Because of weed!! He’s registered and ready to turn Florida Blue. Woo hoo!!! 🇺🇸

[Jake Stern]

7. I'd love to celebrate this great news

However the dark, dark cloud called SCOTUS hangs over this victory.

[Gothmog]

10. I am happy

Link to tweet

[47of74]

12. I think the right to vote should be absolute

And that every last American 16 and over has the inviolable right to vote. You don't want prisoners or incompetent individuals choosing leaders. Well the solution to that is to fucking vote. Make it the affirmative duty of every public employee from dog catcher up to fucking President to fully support the right of people to vote and to make it as easy as possible. And make voter suppression and electoral fraud punishable by death or life imprisonment.

[warmfeet]

13. Democracies maximize voting.

Authoritarian regimes minimize voting.

I know what side I am on.

[grantcart]

15. Why is this coming out on a Sunday

[iluvtennis]

16. Excellent news! nt

[Stuart G]

18. K and R..Thank You for posting..

[ancianita]

20. Great news. ACLU of Florida, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Brennan Center for Justice were behind this.

Also the Campaign Legal Center.

[oasis]

21. Suppression's gone, celebration's on.