FL Amend. 4 was supposed to re-enfranchise 1.4 million people w/ felony convictions. @tampabaytimes @propublica research shows only 31,400 Floridians w/ felony convictions have registered.
"it might be America’s biggest case of voter disenfranchisement."
tampabay.com/news/florida-p…
"it might be America’s biggest case of voter disenfranchisement."
tampabay.com/news/florida-p…
h/t @rickhasen and his indispensable Election Law Blog.
Notably, the story says that 31,400 is only people who served time in prison and have been released. So the number of new registrants is surely higher. But still, only "8 percent of FL's felons have registered to vote since Amendment 4 passed."
Also, many of them still might owe fines and fees (the state doesn't even have an accurate way to tell!), so they could be risking a new felony if they vote!
Talk about a poll tax and further voter suppression!
Of course, the harms hit minority voters the most
Talk about a poll tax and further voter suppression!
Of course, the harms hit minority voters the most
This vital reporting from @tampabaytimes and @propublica is really good--and it makes me furious.
Amendment 4 was supposed to open the doors of democracy to so many people. But the FL legislature and the courts have allowed it to serve as a further tool of voter suppression.
Amendment 4 was supposed to open the doors of democracy to so many people. But the FL legislature and the courts have allowed it to serve as a further tool of voter suppression.
Note that the conservative-majority 11th Circuit upheld the FL legislature's gutting of Amendment 4, even though a district judge found that the law requiring people with felonies to pay back all fines and fees is a modern day poll tax.
We are truly seeing the fruits of McConnell's court packing strategy.
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