Florida cannot bar felons who served their time from registering to vote simply because they have failed to pay all fines and fees stemming from their cases, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Tallahassee federal judge’s preliminary injunction that the implementation of Amendment 4 – approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2018 to allow most felons who served their time to regain the right to vote – amounted to an unfair poll tax that would disenfranchise many of them.
A spokeswoman for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said the state will immediately ask the entire 11th Circuit to reconsider the ruling. In addition, a full trial on the issue is set to begin this spring.
Well, PoS Governor DeSantis has just convinced the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to issue a stay on Judge Hinkel’s ruling allowing ex-felons to vote while they review the ruling. If the stay is not removed by Oct 5th, ex-felons will not be allowed to register to vote in the November general election.
This is a letter that went to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel this morning:
First of all let it be known that I have been a Republican all my life and cannot find it in my conscience to support the Democrat liberal policies, but I am becoming disgusted with Governor DeSantis’ efforts to keep tax paying citizens from voting. These ex-felons have experienced some failure in their lives…as have all of us…and paid the physical portion of the consequences. All would love to be able to pay their monetary restitution but in a world that expects them to support themselves and their families and pay taxes, that is just not always possible or even feasible, especially with a system that makes rejoining society as a responsible citizen almost impossible. Studies have shown that reintegration into society is a key element in eliminating recidivism. Florida’s governor, who is supposed to represent all citizens, seems to be representing only selected citizens and willing to protect his political cronies by depriving some citizens from the opportunity to participate in a democratic…with a small ‘d’…form of government. Until we are able to remove politics from government and the judiciary we will have to learn to live in an unjust society, and one day the “pressure cooker” will boil over and this nation will not be recognizable. It happened once…in 1861…and could happen again if our politicians don’t start doing what is best for the people and not what is best for the ‘party’.
Unless a Murderer or Sex Offender.
And then you are permitted to pay your debt to society and pay taxes…just not vote!
I haven’t seen any response from FAC or the ACLU on the constitutional aspect of Amendment 4 and the ACLU’s involvement in restoring our voting privilege. Is there a suit pending on any aspect of this or plans to get one going?
Someone arrested for voter fraud can apply to get restored to vote but someone whose crime had nothing to do with voting cannot.
It is a no brainer why they do not want us to vote. They know if enough of us were able to vote, we would vote out all the bastards out of office who keep passing these registry laws, especially the every year updates, changes, add ons and additions to our requirements for the rest of our lives.
Let’s focus on getting off the registry first.
So has anyone petitioned DeSatanist yet to get back their right to vote? Right to bear arms? Get off the registry/pardon?
My guess is the process will be no better or faster than under Snott. You will still have to $u¢k the governor’s ¢0¢k. Even if you $wall0w, he will still say “fu¢k you!”
Since the ACLU has abandoned us, we will never vote in Floriduh again. Mark my words.
It’s worse than under Scott – fewer petitions granted for anyone.
My last time to cast a ballot was the George H.W. Bush vs. Bill Clinton elections.
I applied for a pardon when Scott was governor. It’s been several years and nothing happened with it yet.
My letter is going in to Governor DeSantis tomorrow morning. I will let everyone know the results…if there are any results.
He probably framed it on the wall of his office with a big red X stamped in the middle with the word DENIED! and he takes it down at night and cuddles with it.
I realize being tough on crime is important since we all could be a victim at some time. Having said that, it seems no one ever wants us to succeed. One guard told me once, “If it were up to me, we would take all of you into the woods and bury you alive”.
I can see where fees, regardless of whether they come from the court or even those imposed by jails while awaiting sentence, can be considered a poll tax and payment thereof, should not be necessary to restore a felon’s right to vote.
However, just like incarceration and probation, restitution to the victim and fines are part of the punishment and as such, should have to be paid prior to voting rights being restored.
here is the case that went idle since ACLU put 5 Million $$$ into supporting amendment 4
https://www.courthousenews.com/florida-felons-ask-11th-circuit-to-restore-their-voting-rights/
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/03/27/florida-judge-orders-rick-scott-cabinet-to-create-new-voting-rights-restoration-system-for-felons-by-april-26/
How does this affect us ? Aren’t we still unable to vote ? As usual, SO’s I was released with ” Time Served” and all fines etc. have been paid. I owe them nothing. They owe me a chance to live my life ! I’m really tired of this Witch Hunt !
It its ruling, the Eleventh Circuit stated that under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, there must be a rational basis for denying rights to a specific group of people.
What is the State of Florida’s rational basis for denying me the right to vote when my offense was a non-violent category 6 offense under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code [unlawful sexual activity with a 16 or 17 year old, F.S. 794.05(1)], while those who committed more severe offenses (i.e., categories 7, 8, 9 and 10), such as armed robbery, armed burglary, aggravated battery, attempted murder, etc. (along with 100+ other criminal offenses) are re-enfranchised? How is that, in any way, rational?
RM, so you are not disappointed, don’t expect anything rational in Florida.
F&^% them!!!
Why can’t I vote? I did my time!!!!
Short answer:
You cannot vote because THEN that vote might count and oust a corrupt politician who wants to keep all EX-felons on a short lease.
They have the mantra of “Once a felon, always a felon”.
Because A.C.L.U through us to the curb like trash!!!!! 1.6 million voters should get together and removed these good ole boy networks then we could see some change
there was an ACLU case about voting several years ago and was supposed to be continued/postponed or something until early 2019 and then this Amendment passed and nothing ever happened in that case.
in fact, just this evening i received an email from ACLU about a party in Deberry, FL. about this decision. i responded back asking if past convicted people that have a sex crime conviction will be included. I’m not counting on receiving a reply.
1.6 million felons in the state of Florida… and the losing candidates up for offices wonder why they missed by a margin. Unfucking real.
If there are 1.6 million felons just in one state, imagine how many there are nation wide. And how many more there will be since crime will never cease and people with no criminal records do shit that gets them a criminal record.
Now that Amendment 4 has apparently become law, when is the ACLU going to carry out their promise to us?
As a side note, YESTERDAY was the last day to register for voting in Floriduh’s March 17 primary. Good timing on that decision. Coincidence? NOTHING is a coincidence!
In reference to Amendment 4 – I am very glad for those felons who are or will someday be able to vote once again. I have always been a political junkie, but since 2001 have been barred from voting. Is there any chance that, down the road, we can collectively file a class action suit, claiming that certain felons, namely us registered sex offenders, were excluded for life, solely for our “Scarlett Letter” labels. I mean, really, “with liberty and justice for all” sure sounds good, but doesn’t apply to us in the least.
I suppose that my next question would be “can Florida keep any ex-felons from registering to vote if they have paid their debt to society and are tax paying, law abiding citizens…even registered citizens and murderers?” On what constitutional grounds are denial of voting rights withheld?
Amendment 4 amended the Florida Constitution to exclude registrants and murderers.
Doesn’t that make the Florida Constitution in violation of the US Constitution?
It is rare for the entire 11th Circuit Court (aka en banc court) to hear a case because doing so is a sort of smack to the face of the 3 judge panel, unless the en banc court wants to affirm the 3 judge panel. So, we’ll see what happens.