[Judge says ruling will apply to all felons]

Last Call, Florida Politics, 4/8/2020



When a ruling gets handed down in the federal felon voting rights case, it will affect a far greater number of Floridians than the handful who filed suit.

The case challenging the Legislatures controversial Amendment 4 implementing bill was filed by 17 felons who say requiring the payment of fines and fees to get their voting rights back is akin to a “poll tax.”

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said no matter his decision in the case, it will apply to all felons, not just those named in the suit.

It’s estimated that more than 400,000 felons would regain voting rights if no for the fine and fee provisions in the implementing bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last year.

Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Director Desmond Meade, one of the architects behind Amendment 4, lauded the decision.

“We are pleased that the court appears to be consistent in placing people over politics, which is the approach we have maintained since the start of our Amendment 4 campaign,” he said.

There’s reason to believe the eventual ruling will favor felons, as thus far Hinkle has ruled the fines and fees provision unconstitutional and ordered the plaintiffs be allowed to vote without paying up.

That order has since been upheld by a federal appeals court.