Last November, Floridians overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that restored voting rights to most felons once they completed their sentences, making it the largest expansion of voting rights in the country in 50 years. ADADBut in June, DeSantis signed a law that said only felons who had paid all fines, fees and restitution could register to vote. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that the state can ask that the fines be paid, but it can’t bar anybody from voting if they can’t afford to pay. He said he can’t find out how much money in court fines he owes, if any. “The court made clear that wealth cannot be a barrier to right restoration,” said Myrna Pérez, director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Voting Rights and Elections Program.

Source: Washington Post October 19, 2019 22:29 UTC