Florida Can't Block Former Felons From Voting

[Sancho]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/florida-felon-voting-rights-amendment_n_5daa2b1ae4b0f34e3a758b7a?fbclid=IwAR3eUhCx6DlqXJtsxeu80ERz3QlAV8YpDig6DgiMnxOuvtEtueGvoqRY72o

Florida election officials can’t block a group of nearly 20 people with felony convictions from registering to vote if they can’t afford to repay their financial obligations, a federal judge in Florida ruled on Friday.

The ruling, a preliminary injunction, is a victory for voting rights groups that sued the state over a new law that required people with felony convictions to repay financial obligations before they could vote again.

“The court held that the right to vote cannot be denied based on a person’s inability to pay fines and fees. This ruling recognizes the gravity of elected officials trying to circumvent Amendment 4 and create voting roadblocks based on wealth,” said Julie Ebenstein, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, who represented some of the plaintiffs.

The law came after Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in November 2018 to repeal the state’s lifetime voting ban for people with felony convictions. Critics said the Florida law, passed in May, was an effort to undermine that change and effectively imposed a poll tax on people who couldn’t pay.

...more at link....

[mcar]

1. Yes!

This is great news! I attended a workshop where the Exec of the FL ACLU spoke about this lawsuit last month. This sounds like a great start.

[CatWoman]

2. k; r

[superpatriotman]

3. Don't underestimate the stupid here in FL

It’s so stupid that it’s insidious
They will find a way to undo and work against the voters edicts

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. more evil than stupid; expect plan C

First they tried to simply stall, then they tried the "financial obligations"; I'm sure a plan C is in the works.

[kwolf68]

4. I despise the right

If you have served your time, you should have the same rights I do. Someone with a felony conviction is probably screwed anyway in terms of getting fair treatment, employment. The least we can do is allow them to vote.