Florida can’t bar felons from registering to vote over fees and fines, court rules
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.
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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