As Democrats and Republicans prepare to fight for votes in the fall general election, recent court decisions in three battleground states illustrate how each side is maneuvering for the best possible legal position to achieve its goals — with Democrats hoping to expand voting to as many citizens as possible and Republicans working to limit it. FloridaWhat happened: In a reversal, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Floridians who had completed sentences for felonies would have to pay fines and fees before being allowed to vote. The ruling overturned a recent decision by a federal judge who said that forcing people with serious criminal convictions to pay court fines and fees before they could register to vote was akin to an unconstitutional poll tax. The new ruling is the latest in a legal battle that played out after Florida voters passed an amendment to the State Constitution in 2018 that ended the disenfranchisement of those convicted of felonies, except for murder and sexual offenses.

Source: New York Times September 13, 2020 09:00 UTC