Federal Judge Expands Voting to Apply to All FL Ex-Felons

The Federal Judge overseeing the ongoing Dispute between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Ex-Felons who want to Vote handed the Republican Governor another Defeat Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said a Prior Ruling he made that Released Felons to Vote even if they Owe Fines and Fees stemming from their Convictions Covers All Individuals Statewide, not just the 17 People who originally Sued DeSantis.

Tuesday's Order applies to an estimated 1.4 Million Men and Women. Though Florida Voters in 2018 overwhelmingly Passed an Amendment to the State's Constitution to Allow Automatic Restoration of Voting Rights after Prison, Republican Lawmakers have sought to Impose Requirements that would Block many from Registering.

A Federal Trial on the Issue is scheduled for later this month.

Court Clerks across the State say Fines owed by Former Felons who have Completed their Sentences and are on Probation Total more than $1 Billion Dollars. The Average Amount owed is estimated to be $1,500, according to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. The Requirement that Citizens Pay a Fine before they can Register to Vote amounts to an Illegal Poll Tax, critics of the Legislation say.

In his Ruling, Hinkle cited a Woman who said she's trying to Pay her Fines but "based on her income will not be able to pay off her financial obligations until 2031."

"Many thousands of felons are unable to pay their relevant financial obligations because of indigency," Hinkle noted. "Still others are unable to pay because the amount owed is out of reach even for a person who is not indigent." In October, Hinkle Ruled in favor of the 17 Plaintiffs. The State Appealed that Decision, but it was Upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Judges in that Decision said the State "may not erect a wealth barrier" to Citizens who want to Register to Vote.

During a Hearing last week, held via Teleconference because of Coronavirus considerations, Hinkle grew Impatient with DeSantis Representatives because they had not yet come up with a Plan to let Released Felons know if they Owe any Money before they can Register. "If the state is not going to fix it, I will," Hinkle said. His Order on Tuesday Reiterated that: "The state's records of financial obligations are a mess," Hinkle wrote.

There was always a System in Florida to handle this Issue. Florida allowed a Former Felon to Payback the Amount Over Time, with the Monthly Amount depended on their Income. It Never was part of Voting Registration.










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