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appalachiablue

(41,047 posts)
Mon May 25, 2020, 04:06 AM May 2020

Judge Rules Against Florida On Felons Paying Fines To Vote

Source: Associated Press, May 25, 2020

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida law requiring felons to pay legal fees as part of their sentences before regaining the vote is unconstitutional for those unable to pay, or unable to find out how much they owe, a federal judge ruled Sunday. The 125-page ruling was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee. It involves a state law to implement a 2016 ballot measure approved by voters to automatically restore the right to vote for many felons who have completed their sentence.

The Republican-led Legislature stipulated that fines and legal fees must be paid as part of the sentence, in addition to serving any prison time. Hinkle has acknowledged he is unlikely to have the last word in the case, expecting the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to launch an appeal. The case could have deep ramifications in the crucial electoral battleground given that Florida has an estimated 774,000 disenfranchised felons who are barred because of financial obligations.

Many of those felons are African Americans and presumably Democrats, though it’s unclear how that group of Floridians overall would lean politically in an election and how many would vote. The judge called the Florida rules a “pay to vote” system that are unconstitutional when applied to felons “who are otherwise eligible to vote but are genuinely unable to pay the required amount."

A further complication is determining the exact amount in fines and other kinds of legal fees owed by felons seeking the vote —Hinkle said it’s unconstitutional to bar any voter whose amount owed could not be “determined with diligence.” Hinkle ordered the state to require election officials to allow felons to request an advisory opinion on how much they owe — essentially placing the burden on elections officials to seek that information from court systems. If there’s no response within three weeks, then the applicant should not be barred from registering to vote, the ruling said...

Read more: https://apnews.com/a91404d0db88bac1beb085f31d74c9df

“This is a tremendous victory for voting rights,” said Julie Ebenstein with the ACLU, "The court recognized that conditioning a person’s right to vote on their ability to pay is unconstitutional. The ruling means hundreds of thousands of Floridians will be able to rejoin the electorate and participate in upcoming elections.”

*Read Also: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142499902

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/05/24/federal-judge-florida-cant-stop-poor-felons-from-voting/



- People gather around the Ben & Jerry's "Yes on 4" truck as they learn about Amendment 4 and eat free ice cream at Charles Hadley Park in Miami, 2018. (W. Lee, AP)

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Judge Rules Against Florida On Felons Paying Fines To Vote (Original Post) appalachiablue May 2020 OP
So, they want to take away Scarsdale May 2020 #1
The American Revolution began with the cry safeinOhio May 2020 #2
Smart election strategy: SCantiGOP May 2020 #3

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
1. So, they want to take away
Mon May 25, 2020, 07:04 AM
May 2020

a person's citizenship in other words. Nobody should be refused their civil rights because of a conviction. Another gop scam to "win" an election. Many of the crimes were minor, but once a person has a record it is difficult to find employment. This makes it impossible to pay fines and fees. Many republicans have committed crimes, but never been charged or had to serve time in prison. I wonder if Goetz was ever fined for his DUI's? We all know Scott was a crook, scamming nursing homes and hospitals. Was he fined? Didn't he rip off Medicare for a facility he owned? Another dirty trick to take away the dignity of a person. ANY citizen should be voting, it is a RIGHT.

safeinOhio

(32,525 posts)
2. The American Revolution began with the cry
Mon May 25, 2020, 07:08 AM
May 2020

No taxation without representation.

A citizen should pay no State or local tax without the right to vote. Let’s see how quick voter rights are enforced in Florida.
We need to make every state a Right to Vote State.

SCantiGOP

(13,855 posts)
3. Smart election strategy:
Mon May 25, 2020, 10:23 AM
May 2020

Keep fighting in court to deprive 774,000 people of their right to vote so that, when you lose, you add 774,000 really pissed of voters to the roles in the most important swing state.

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