The decision could have a major impact on the presidential race because of Florida's history of razor-thin electoral margins.
who have completed their sentences cannot vote this fall or in the future unless they pay fees and fines owed to the state. The decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, along strict ideological lines, could have a major impact on the presidential race because of Florida's history of razor-thin margins.
In 2000, George W. Bush won the White House with a 537-vote victory margin there. The appeals court's ruling was written by Chief Judge William Pryor, who was named to the court by President George W. Bush and is on Trump's list of potential Supreme Court nominees. The other five judges in the 6-4 majority were appointed by Trump. All four judges in the minority were named by Democratic presidents.in 2018 that allows most felons to vote after their sentences are complete. Those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense are not included.requiring that felons first pay all of their financial obligations. "Because court costs and fees are legitimate parts of a criminal sentence – that is, part of the debt to society that felons must pay for their crimes – there is no basis to regard them as a tax," the appeals court ruled. There are about 775,000 felons in the state who have completed their prison sentences, including parole or probation. So far, at least 85,000 have registered to vote and will be screened for eligibility, based on the financial requirements. Unless the state finds information that disqualifies them, Pryor wrote, those felons"are entitled to vote." In dissent, Judge Adalberto Jordan and three colleagues said the ruling will"obstruct, impede and impair the ability of felons to vote" because even those already registered risk committing a crime if they later are found to owe money as part of their sentence. "Should any of these 85,000 registrants choose to vote in the upcoming election – as they may believe, in good faith, they have a right to do – they risk criminal prosecution if they turn out to be wrong about their eligibility," Jordan wrote.
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