Thread by @splcenter

The #Florida Supreme Court issued a decision this morning permitting a modern-day poll tax and redefining the voter-approved #Amendment4.

tampabay.com/florida-politi…

See thread for SPLC's Nancy Abudu's statement to the decision:

“The #Florida Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing and cuts the 1.4 million people who voters expressly intended to re-enfranchise almost in half.

"By holding Floridians’ right to vote hostage, the Florida Supreme Court is permitting the unconstitutional modern-day poll tax in #SB7066, and redefining an amendment nearly 65 percent of #Florida voters approved of in 2018.

“Floridians like our clients, Rosemary McCoy and Sheila Singleton, are unable to overcome the financial barrier to voting that SB 7066 presents - potentially for the remainder of their lives.

"A person’s lifetime participation in our democratic process cannot and should not be conditioned on their wealth. This is the reason a federal judge has already blocked in part the implementation of SB 7066.

“The federal court has also put the #Florida Legislature and state officials on notice to solve the administrative chaos triggered by the law. This was all avoidable had the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis allowed #Amendment4 to be self-executing, as written and intended.

"The movement that began to pass #Amendment4 was never going to go away after last year’s election, but it is needed now more than ever to ensure everyone who is eligible to vote can register, and does so.

“Despite the dangerous decision today from a conservative court, Floridians without court debt and without the ability to pay existing court debt, should know they can legally register to vote. Their participation in our democratic process will make Florida stronger.”