A federal judge on Sunday ruled that a Florida
law that restricts felons from voting if they cannot pay court fines
and fees is an unconstitutional “pay-to-vote system.” The ruling could
allow thousands of people to vote but is expected to be swiftly
appealed. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle ruled in favor of an
American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed last year shortly after
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the restrictions into law, barring
Florida felons from the ballot box unless they resolve their financial
obligations.
“The Twenty-Fourth Amendment precludes Florida from conditioning voting in federal elections on payment of these fees and costs,” Hinkle wrote in his order, noting that “every Florida felony conviction results in an order to pay hundreds of dollars in fees and costs intended to fund the government.” Hinkle also stressed that there is no system in place that keeps track or informs Florida felons of how much they owe. “This ruling means hundreds of thousands of Floridians will be able to rejoin the electorate and participate in upcoming elections,” said Julie Ebenstein, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU. “This is a tremendous victory for voting rights.”
“The Twenty-Fourth Amendment precludes Florida from conditioning voting in federal elections on payment of these fees and costs,” Hinkle wrote in his order, noting that “every Florida felony conviction results in an order to pay hundreds of dollars in fees and costs intended to fund the government.” Hinkle also stressed that there is no system in place that keeps track or informs Florida felons of how much they owe. “This ruling means hundreds of thousands of Floridians will be able to rejoin the electorate and participate in upcoming elections,” said Julie Ebenstein, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU. “This is a tremendous victory for voting rights.”
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