Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Law Restricting Voting by Ex-Felons

Yep . The Anti progressives has no bounds when it comes to voter suppression from gerrymandering, closing polls early,implementing poll taxes etc.

David,
I live 45 miles from Florida. The proponents of this Florida Constitutional Amendment advertised on TV that the convicted felons would finish parole and pay all fines and restitution. Now that’s a poll tax?

SR Kenneth Beck - Yes. The amendment was not specific as to paying fines and court costs and was vague. Most of those criminal felons had court appointed attorneys and were unable to pay fines in the first place. The Republican controlled Legislature and Governor implemented those laws after the amendment was passed by nearl 65% of voters. The previous Republican governor, Charlie Crist, had restored the voting rights of nonviolent felons. It was Desantis and Pam Biondi who changed that policy and made a mandatory five year wait time. This triggered the amendment proposal in the first place. The amendment read thus:

"No. 4 Constitutional Amendment Article VI, Section 4. Voting Restoration Amendment This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis."

Nowhere did it mention payment of all fines and court costs. This was vague. That came later. It just so happens that 24% of the black population had felony convictions.

Prior to 2018, Florida was one of four U.S. states that enacted permanent felony disenfranchisement. Almost all states (I believe it's 32) restore voter rights to include federal elections. States control federal elections. Some states allow felons to vote while incarcerated. It is more likely that changing voter laws is an attempt to suppress voting from certain populations by those on the right.

"The power of states and Congress to regulate congressional elections under the Elections Clause is subject to express and implicit limits. Fundamentally, neither entity can enact laws under the Elections Clause that violate other constitutional provisions. For example, the Constitution specifies that anyone who is eligible to vote for the larger house of a state legislature may vote for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate as well. The Elections Clause does not permit either the states or Congress to override those provisions by establishing additional qualifications for voting for Congress." 1SG (Join to see) Capt Gregory Prickett SFC Ralph E Kelley

https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/article-i/clauses/750