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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans achieve massive voter suppression in Florida, ex-felons cannot vote right now
Florida can bar ex-felons from voting if they owe court payments, appeals court rules
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/politics/florida-ex-felons-voting/index.html
The 6-4 ruling by the full 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's ruling blocking the law.
The law, Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in the majority opinion, doesn't constitute a poll tax. Instead, "it promotes full rehabilitation of returning citizens and ensures full satisfaction of the punishment imposed for the crimes by which felons forfeited the right to vote."
"That criminal sentences often include financial obligations does not make this requirement a 'capricious or irrelevant factor,'" Pryor wrote. "Monetary provisions of a sentence are no less a part of the penalty that society imposes for a crime than terms of imprisonment. Indeed, some felons face substantial monetary penalties but little or no prison time."
eta: law is here http://laws.flrules.org/2019/162 , looking for better source
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)voter restrictions if unable to pay? 3 different things? I'm guessing that these EX-felons might as well move to another state, so they can vote immediately?
Also, what's the impact of this, X % are democratic voters, Y % are republican voters?
Aristus
(66,275 posts)I don't want their votes.
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)financial crimes, all republicans of course too!
steve2470
(37,457 posts)That's why the Republican governor and legislature passed that law.
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)where this tidbit of news came from? I did find this below, in a quick google search, the source is attributed to Jared Kishner (of all people, yikes)...
As President Donald Trump builds the Republican Partys coalition before the 2020 election, his son-in-law Jared Kushner tossed out a surprising statistic about a group of people who he said leans right: felons in Florida.
"In Florida they passed a law where former felons can now vote. We've had more ex-felons register as Republicans than Democrats," Kushner told Laura Ingraham on Fox News April 1.
Ingraham interjected: "Wait, whoa, whoa. You've had more felons, ex-felons register as Republicans than Democrats?"
Kushner replied: "That's the data that I've seen. I think that will surprise a lot of people when they see the new coalition that President Trump is building for what the Republican Party has the potential to be."
So are former felons rushing to join Trumps party in Florida?
We found no statewide data to support Kushners conclusion that more ex-felons have registered as Republicans since a new law took effect. At this point in time, his comment isnt more than wishful thinking.
We contacted the White House to ask for Kushners data and did not get a reply.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)Probably a large majority of ex-felons are African-American, who tend to vote Democratic in huge majorities.
I could find the research, but think of it: If they voted REPUBLICAN, why would a Republican governor and a Republican-controlled legislature pass that law ? It makes no sense any other way.
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)it's 100% democrats vs. some other ratio. I tend to believe that it's a mix of both sides, plus a few not belonging to either party, so it's a wash perhaps. And also, to the nature of their crimes, just how much of an imposition are these financial penalties? I don't know this (I can imagine that these people are getting out of jail, already are struggling w/ getting jobs (if able to, etc.)).
It would be interesting to see hard and steadfast evidence as to the breakdown of party affiliation, but like you said, why would the republicans pass this? Perhaps they passed it in a fit of an anti-crime stance that they must show, in that they are the party of law and order, but still.
What gets me is that this reminds me of the Jim Crow laws that were prevalent throughout the South, in restricting voters if they had felonies (and associated penalties).
steve2470
(37,457 posts)There are some Republicans, independents, etc.
I promise you, the Florida Republicans KNOW that the ONLY reason for this law was, that they knew ex-felons are MOSTLY (not all) Democratic. They didn't want those potential voters to vote.
Yes, I am not providing evidence, but I live here. My brother is deeply involved in the Florida Democratic Party. It is an open secret here.
If you don't believe me, that's fine. You can go do the hours of research and you will see I am accurate.
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)couple of issues, that's it.
unblock
(52,113 posts)in some ways this may even be worse than a poll tax. it gives members of the controlling party in government an incentive to criminalize and fine behavior associated with people more likely to vote for the opposition.
now all sorts of things will be fined. they might even decline to try to actually collect it. just use the outstanding fine as an excuse to deny certain people the right to vote.
so instead of simply having to effectively pay to vote, now you get harassed and fined first.
oh, but i'm sure government will only use this on baaad people who deserve prison. the government would criminalize certain things or assign penalties to crimes based on racial considerations....
AnnaLee
(1,033 posts)If an ex-felon from Florida moved to another state they could vote?
steve2470
(37,457 posts)Congress only certifies the results and canvasses the Electoral College for the final result.
Mariana
(14,854 posts)Arazi
(6,829 posts)Pay these fines
steve2470
(37,457 posts)sl8
(13,653 posts)The district court judge had come up with a plan for the state to follow.
Looks like that's out the window now.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)sl8
(13,653 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)spanone
(135,781 posts)Arazi
(6,829 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)The denial of the right to vote makes them almost non-citizens. It is outrageous and a true poll tax.