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Calista241

(5,584 posts)
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 04:45 PM Oct 2019

Federal Judge Declares GOP 'Poll Tax' Unconstitutional, Says State Can't Restrict Right to Vote Base

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NancyBlueINOklahoma (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Law & Crime

A federal court in Florida has ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny individuals with prior felony convictions the right to vote based on their inability to pay fees and fines. Friday’s decision restores the right to vote for plaintiffs who otherwise would be eligible to vote in Florida but who simply cannot afford to pay off their outstanding fines, fees and restitution.

The 55-page opinion by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle is a victory for voting rights advocates and Civil Rights advocates who argued that Florida Republicans had essentially re-instituted a poll tax on the right to vote in the Sunshine State.

The mood among pro-democracy advocates was jubilant just after the 2018 midterm elections when Florida’s electorate overwhelmingly chose to allow formerly incarcerated individuals their right to vote. Some 65 percent of Floridians voted in favor of re-extending the franchise. The passage of Amendment 4 would have allowed 1.5 million previously disenfranchised Floridians the right to vote.

In sum, the popular measure affected roughly seven percent of Florida’s entire population–but disproportionately impacted the state’s African-American community for the better. Under the prior, 150-year-old system of disenfranchisement, nearly 20 percent of Florida’s black population was denied the right to vote.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/civil-rights/federal-judge-declares-gop-poll-tax-unconstitutional-says-state-cant-restrict-right-to-vote-based-on-ability-to-pay/

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Federal Judge Declares GOP 'Poll Tax' Unconstitutional, Says State Can't Restrict Right to Vote Base (Original Post) Calista241 Oct 2019 OP
Seems like the right thing to me. Once you've paid your debt to truthisfreedom Oct 2019 #1
Does anyone still think Republicons respect or value the concept of democracy??? TryLogic Oct 2019 #2
Sure they do.... so long as only the 'right people' participate groundloop Oct 2019 #3
Not to my knowledge. warmfeet Oct 2019 #4
Locking - this is a duplicate OKNancy Oct 2019 #5

truthisfreedom

(23,113 posts)
1. Seems like the right thing to me. Once you've paid your debt to
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 04:54 PM
Oct 2019

Society, you should be free to vote. Not once you’ve paid your fines.

TryLogic

(1,721 posts)
2. Does anyone still think Republicons respect or value the concept of democracy???
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 05:39 PM
Oct 2019

groundloop

(11,486 posts)
3. Sure they do.... so long as only the 'right people' participate
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 05:57 PM
Oct 2019

warmfeet

(3,321 posts)
4. Not to my knowledge.
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 06:03 PM
Oct 2019

They value power and control at any cost. People I associate with know this.

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
5. Locking - this is a duplicate
Sat Oct 19, 2019, 07:27 PM
Oct 2019

older thread here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142383451

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