An estimated 80 percent of Florida felons are assigned fees, fines or restitution at sentencing, according to a recent court filing, and many will spend years or decades on payment plans to settle — meaning thousands of people were suddenly no longer eligible for rights restoration. Meade estimates that more than half a million people cannot register to vote because of these financial obligations.
Meanwhile, at the request of Republican Gov. Rick DeSantis, the Florida State Supreme Court is expected to wade into the fight, too, with an opinion on whether the constitutional amendment includes financial obligations, as lawmakers insist. Hinkle wrote in his ruling that he anticipates the court will interpret the amendment in line with Florida's legislators.
And there are still outstanding practical issues with the law. Because Florida has no centralized system to track the fees and fines, it's sometimes difficult for former felons to figure out how much they owe the state. “We’re hoping that the state will resolve these dire constitutional concerns because to fail to do so would both go against the will of Floridians when they passed Amendment 4, and we would all find ourselves back in court to resolve those issues,” Ebenstein said."In spite of the litigation and legislation, we know what we’re talking about is real people," he told NBC News this week.
deray Trump Maga bigots
deray fireoppenheim
deray 'Obstacles remain?' You mean, 'Racist Republicans intentionally thwarted the purpose and intention of this law because if all people voted, they would be be run out of power in a rout.'
deray There is no such thing as an ex-felons, felons are felons. This country isn't your own personal Sunday school. Serious crimes bar you from civic participation.
Obstacles = Republicans...
Okay your people can vote - only if they vote for Pharaoh!
What is an “ex felon”?
Fees and fines are part of their penalty for the crimes they committed. Until those are satisfied, their debt to society remains and their sentence is not fulfilled. Thus they are NOT entitled to have the rights which they forfeited fully restored...
Hey Florida, if criminals can hold political office, ex-felons can vote. SaturdayThoughts
Isn’t that the point of prison, losing rights? What planet can sustain life? Let’s not call it America, she is dying as we speak.💔😢
As with any convictions folks are responsible for the fines, these people are no exception
Florida lets ‘them’ vote?
Felons should not be voting... They forfeited that right with their poor decisions.... ‼️