Judge rules Florida can't block ex-felons from voting over outstanding fees

[Judi Lynn]

Source: UPI

APRIL 7, 2020 / 11:14 PM

By Daniel Uria

April 7 (UPI) -- A federal judge issued an order ruling all former felons in the state must be allowed to vote despite outstanding court fees.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle on Tuesday issued the order extending a ruling he made in October restoring voting rights to a handful of plaintiffs after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature failed to provide a quick and efficient process for other felons who are unable to pay their legal financial obligations.

"Many thousands of felons are unable to pay their relevant financial obligations because of indigency," Hinkle said. "Still others are unable to pay because the amount owed is out of reach even for a person who is not indigent."

Florida voted in 2018 to approve a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to more than 1.4 million people who were convicted of felonies. However, DeSantis then signed a law stating that only felons who had paid all fines, fees and restitution could register to vote.


Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/04/07/Judge-rules-Florida-cant-block-ex-felons-from-voting-over-outstanding-fees/1001586310142/?sl=1&ur3=1

[efhmc]

1. Looks like as hard as they try, the GOP is going to lose this one.

[burrowowl]

2. I hope the rethugs or the 5 on the SCOTUS don't overrule the decision

[lark]

12. Damn, I hadn't even thought of this treacherous turn.

Shhh, don't mention it to drumpf or he will send it and they will expedite the shit out of it because it will be to enhance rw voting and suppress lw voters.

[notdarkyet]

3. When do Trump and repubs realize all these manipulation tactics to change votes drive the votes

Away from them. People are voters. The more that vote the more they lose and they know it. It is a powerful statement when people stand for hours threatened by a deadly virus, in blustery cold weather to vote. Must be some strong feelings roiling in the heartland. Every time trump is on tv he loses votes. Keep whittling them down. We don’t have to fight you, just expose you. Worked for Vietnam. Hope you assholes get what you deserve. Picture Mussolini.

[cstanleytech]

6. That's why they are stacking the court because the Republican Party

is counting on their judges to help them reinstitute things like debtors prisons.

[RandySF]

4. Soon to be overturned by higher courts.

And people laughed when Hillary warned us about the courts.

[spudspud]

5. Yep. There's no way they won't...

push this as far as they can to overturn it. They can't afford to have 1.4 million new voters, mostly minorities and therefore likely Democrats, vote in this upcoming election. Losing Florida would pretty much guarantee Trump loses the election.

[Demovictory9]

9. sadly you are right

[Gothmog]

7. The Florida poll tax is unconstitutional

Link to tweet

[Demovictory9]

8. good

[Akakoji]

11. Great News for Biden!

We must vote!

[sakabatou]

13. Good.

[idahoblue]

14. Not to worry.

The anti voting SCOTUS will reverse it. They never miss a chance to stop people from voting.

[Gobbierella]

15. It's worse than you think

The law stated that former felons had to pay fines and restitution and then the state systematically prevented them from obtaining the information they needed to pay those fines and restitution. Even those affected who hired attorney's to help them navigate the system were thwarted at every turn.