In a disappointing decision that came out the eve of a deadline imposed by the lower court, The 11the Circuit Court of Appeal granted Governor Rick Scott a stay pending appeal. The opinion, which itself was disheartening (and can be read here: http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201811388.pdf) maintains the status quo until the appeal is decided. That means that hundreds of thousands of individuals’s votes will be suppressed as Governor Scott makes his run for the Senate.
Most would have likely voted against him. Hopefully those whose voting rights remain intact will show up to the polls to prevent him from being elected.
Somehow my voting rights were never revoked, but I’ve been afraid to vote since I know it is a third-degree felony if I do so. Any opinions?
Im not a big fan of al sharpton but I was happy to hear him on news 13 today speaking at the rally for restoring rights to felons. He hit nail on the head about it. He quoted “Y’all got all these elections going around in Florida, telling me the governor wants to be a senator and all that,” Sharpton said. “Why are you afraid, Governor Scott, of more folk being allowed to vote?”.
It comes down to politics is all. I hope he keeps the push going. 1.5 million supposed disenfranchised floridans could cause a tidal wave in election outcomes in the future.
I have been a Republican all my life but I can in no way support ‘his lordship’ Rick Scott for senate. I may even donate to his opponent for the senate. That’s how low my opinion of Gov. Scott is. A person’s eligibility to vote should not be left up to politicians and election cycles. Restoration processes should be constant and applied equally to all ex-felons and not just a select group. What is our United States becoming? Give your money to the government and have no say on how it is spent. Shades of the Soviet Union.
Capt I’m so sorry that the country you fought to protect is treating you, and us, like this. But regardless of who you support, they’re all in bed together. They act like they oppose each other but they’re all just as corrupt and slimy as the next guy. I say we toss them all out, reinstate the constitution, and start over.
I’m not a lawyer or legal expert of any sort, heck, I’m even dumb for these court terms and procedures, but a ” stay ” pending appeal is like a stalling until further notice correct ? So the the appeal is still pending to be heard and be ruled upon. Ok, at least we still have the chance to win this one I believe… Right ?
In the mean time, those of us who could vote just go to the polls and make sure Scott doesn’t win for now.
Correct. We may still win. But this probably pushes things past the election, which is all they cared about anyhow.
We need to go to the polls and ensure Scott does not win!!!
If you can’t vote spread the word to those around you that can vote. Political amnesia becomes rampant during election cycles
If you are a citizen who is not currently incarcerated, you should have the right to vote in ALL of the states, PERIOD. The US Supreme Court ruled that campaign donations are a protected freedom of speech Constitutional right. Your vote is also a form of speech. It expresses your opinion. It should be protected as well. Politicians love to muzzle anyone who disagrees with them.
This is SAD. We are not a democracy any more. It figures governor Rick Scott Got his way. It’s amazing how one hand washes another up there in Tallahassee !! It was done on purpose so he gets elected as Senator so he gets in. If you think we have problems now wait until he becomes our senator. This is another elected official that has to be outed out with all the skeletons in his closet especially with the investigation he had against him with the Medicaid fraud years ago. I’m disappointed with this outcome!!!
This should be a classic example to everyone just how corrupt this govt is and just how futile any of our efforts or lawsuits on our part for our rights truly are. Sure, they’ll entertain us and tinker with us for a while, but in the end, they always win because they have all the power, control, and money. They can do whatever they want and make whatever law they want. We live in a totalitarian police state people whether you want to believe it or not. The proof is being constantly put in front of you. The question is, what are we gonna do about it now? Fighting the system using their laws, and well, their system is like trying to beat a cheetah in a foot race. So I’m glad you guys have another example to look and see just how controlling your govt has become. Become governor, suppress as many voters as you can, control the system with which they get them restored, run for Senate, refuse to change clemency procedures until after your race, spurn the feds (which Florida is known for always doing). I mean, that’s classic. Epic govt corruption right out of a tyrants rule book. I know it’s hard for most of y’all to accept it, but our govt don’t give two sh*ts about the constitution or the average citizens rights. They only care about maintaining their power and control through any means necessary. And that my friends, is not a democracy, its a dictatorship with one main dictator and 50 little ones. It’s really time to open your eyes people and figure out what you intend to do about it. Because it’s only going to get worse. If I have to hop on a boat and go be a refugee somewhere to escape it, I will. And if you think I’m overexaggerating this, do that at your own stupidity. In the meantime I recommend the book Battlefield America by John Whitehead.
I disagree that our efforts are futile – win some lose some and the battle is not lost – this is just a stay until the appeal is heard. The Felons still won the trial court and the appeal has not even been heard yet.
I also disagree with the prior commenter that this is an indication of corruption in Tallahassee. This is not a state court, this is Federal and the 11th Circuit is in Atlanta, GA. The trial court (in which we won) is in Tallahassee.
Our efforts are never futile if we try! I know its disappointing as I was set and ready to listen to the meeting last night, as was my son. Just another bump in the road.
We also have to remember this isn’t our fight. It impacted all felons. The other reality is; after this election, Scott’s administration won’t care about voting rights and our next governor will likely undo the damage this administration did.
Seriously, let’s be objective it’s disappointing but you can’t be surprised, what decision did the 11th circuit Court have?
1) potentially enfranchise thousands of ultimately ineligible voters
If they didn’t Grant the stay and all of us rushed out and voted for or against Rick Scott, and don’t forget hundreds of other candidates for all manner of positions state wide, only to find out that the higher court upholds the states restriction, then the election would be tainted with all of our ineligible votes.
2) temporarily continue to disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters who are waiting for a final court decision that determines their eligibility.
By granting the stay they do the least amount of damage to the electoral system by disenfranchising the lepast amount of people and not contaminating the vote with what might be ineligible votes.
THAT is democracy, Best is the enemy of Good Enough.
In the meantime I’d go print up a dozen “Sex Offenders for Rick Scott” signs and put them on my lawn.
Yes, yes, yes! I love it. Put those signs up. I say we do the same thing when little miss precious Lauren book is up for reelection too. That’s classic. I love it.
And I will be one of the first at the polls to do that!
Not a surprise. Just like it’s not a surprise that the McGuire case is being stalled in the 11th Circuit. This is the Deep Jim Crow South after all.
Many were very upset with voter tampering by the Russians . Where is this same uproar over a Governor who is basically doing just that .