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mia

(8,356 posts)
Wed May 27, 2020, 09:37 AM May 2020

DeSantis really doesn't want ex-felons to vote. It's not because so many are black, is it?

...Sunday, a federal judge restored the hard-fought, hard-won voting rights of 1.4 million e-felons in Florida.

Tuesday, a relentless Gov. DeSantis announced that he would appeal, again....

Amendment 4 grants ex-felons who completed “all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.” But the definition of “all terms” was not defined in the amendment, and Republicans jumped on that gray area.

So began the despicable war on this constitutional amendment. Last spring, the Legislature passed, and DeSantis gladly signed, Senate Bill 7066, requiring that voter-registration officials receive proof that ex-felons have paid all fines, fees and restitution as a condition of issuing them a voter’s card....


https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article243015016.html
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DeSantis really doesn't want ex-felons to vote. It's not because so many are black, is it? (Original Post) mia May 2020 OP
Truly vile. n/t Laelth May 2020 #1
blacks and hispanics for sure beachbumbob May 2020 #2
Frankly... UncleTomsEvilBrother May 2020 #4
Definitely a law aimed at Black people UncleTomsEvilBrother May 2020 #3
If blacks voted republican, there would no be a problem at all jimfields33 May 2020 #5
Nobody here wants to hear it ScratchCat May 2020 #6
Looks like voter and vote suppression measures are going to kick into overtime this year uponit7771 May 2020 #7
3. Definitely a law aimed at Black people
Wed May 27, 2020, 10:02 AM
May 2020

1 in 13 Blacks in Florida would not be able to vote because of the felon disenfranchisement.

The votes to overturn the felon law was incredible because it was the most impactful way to show the will of the people for the State of Florida.

Eventually, we'll have to "peel back the onion," though, and figure out why so many African Americans in the state of Florida have felony charges. The communities are definitely more heavily policed, but that can't be the only reason. As it stands, the State and the country are silent in response to these alarming numbers. One has to wonder if, by our silence, we're saying that the African American population in Florida is inherently more violent than the non-African American population.

jimfields33

(15,475 posts)
5. If blacks voted republican, there would no be a problem at all
Wed May 27, 2020, 10:47 AM
May 2020

They’d fight the unfairness. But they know most vote democratic and can’t have that. Hypocrites.

ScratchCat

(1,957 posts)
6. Nobody here wants to hear it
Wed May 27, 2020, 11:05 AM
May 2020

But I will try to explain this anyway.

When a person is convicted of a crime - or enters a plea bargain - the jail or prison sentence is some times mitigated by a fine and/or restitution. Meaning, the sentence is shorter because the individual is also going to pay a fine and/or restitution. Given this fact, restitution is an integral part of the sentence which must be fulfilled for the sentence to be complete.

The "face" of this suit against Florida is a woman who was convicted to embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from a former employer. She went to prison and is now out, and is supposed to pay back the money. She hasn't paid back the money and her attorney implies she isn't going to. But she believes she should be allowed to vote. Why should she be able to vote now, when she wont pay back the money, considering she could still be in prison if the sentence did not include restitution? The voters of Florida DID NOT vote for an amendment that would allow someone to vote simply because their attorney worked a deal where they got a short prison sentence in lieu of restitution - before they paid the restitution. The amendment says "All Terms", which any reasonable person would infer means fines and restitution.

I ask this: If a persons sentence for a crime is 2 years probation, a $1,000 fine and restitution of $20,000, when do you think they should be allowed t vote? How could it be before the probation is over and the fine and restitution are paid? Seriously, what is the logical argument against this? There is none.

The problem isn't the Florida Legislature or Governor Desantis - its the people behind this suit who are trying to take a GOOD AMENDMENT and apply it to people whom it was not intended to apply to. The amendment language was not unclear.

NOTE: I am NOT talking about "court fees". Those are bogus and should not have to be paid to vote. Any fine and restitution that was part of the sentence clearly and obviously qualifies as "all terms" and no reasonable person sees it otherwise. The State of Florida will likely win on appeal.

This is the truth, not a "right wing talking point". I was 100% in favor of this amendment, but its intent wasn't for felons to vote before fines and restitution were paid.

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