Florida high court sides with governor on felon voter rights

[Chomsky]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday in a legal dispute over restoring voting rights to felons with unpaid fines

At the time Amendment 4 was ratified overwhelmingly by voters in November 2018, proponents said it would give voting rights back to about 1.4 million felons who have completed their prison terms.

In its advisory opinion, the court said only felons who have fully completed their sentences can regain access to the ballot box. And the court agreed with the governor and legislative Republicans that this means all outstanding legal financial obligations, which it referred to as LFOs, must have been satisfied.

“Voting is a privilege that should not be taken lightly, and I am obligated to faithfully implement Amendment 4 as it is defined,” he tweeted.

Source: (AP) Florida high court sides with governor on felon voter rights

I saw this bit of news come across CTV, and decided to do a little research. Not research into the substance of the ruling, but rather research into the celebratory victory Tweet Governor DeSantis did in response to the ruling.

The DeSantis Tweet segment in question, is the last quote in my O.P. Here it is again below, with my adding emphasis to the part I'm focusing upon:

“Voting is a privilege that should not be taken lightly, and I am obligated to faithfully implement Amendment 4 as it is defined,” he tweeted.

Voting is a "privilege"? This is the attitude of the FL Republican governor? Whether Fruedian slip or not, I find this statement appalling.

 

[swing_voter]

I imagine that most felons won't vote anyways. I'd like to see a study.

 

[Ikari]

I imagine that most felons won't vote anyways. I'd like to see a study.

Most citizens in general don't usually vote, particularly in midterms and such. Does that mean none of us should be able to vote?

 

[Fletch]

Source: (AP) Florida high court sides with governor on felon voter rights

I saw this bit of news come across CTV, and decided to do a little research. Not research into the substance of the ruling, but rather research into the celebratory victory Tweet Governor DeSantis did in response to the ruling.

The DeSantis Tweet segment in question, is the last quote in my O.P. Here it is again below, with my adding emphasis to the part I'm focusing upon:

Voting is a "privilege"? This is the attitude of the FL Republican governor? Whether Fruedian slip or not, I find this statement appalling.

What do you consider the difference between a privilege and a right?

 

[Winston]

I imagine that most felons won't vote anyways. I'd like to see a study.

Could be but, many people who have done hard time read voraciously. It's one of the only things they can do in their cells. And people who have been given the gift of knowledge rarely squander it by not participating.

 

[ttwtt78640]

What else could something which is conditionally granted (restored?) by the state be called other than a privilege?

 

[Ikari]

What else could something which is conditionally granted (restored?) by the state be called other than a privilege?

I mean, one could argue that in that case there are no rights, only government granted privileges.

 

[ttwtt78640]

What do you consider the difference between a privilege and a right?

That which can be conditionally granted by the state is a privilege. That which cannot be removed by the state without due process of law is a right.

 

[MTAtech]

Source: (AP) Florida high court sides with governor on felon voter rights

I saw this bit of news come across CTV, and decided to do a little research. Not research into the substance of the ruling, but rather research into the celebratory victory Tweet Governor DeSantis did in response to the ruling.

The DeSantis Tweet segment in question, is the last quote in my O.P. Here it is again below, with my adding emphasis to the part I'm focusing upon:

Voting is a "privilege"? This is the attitude of the FL Republican governor? Whether Fruedian slip or not, I find this statement appalling.

I’ll have to let Mrs. Goodman, my third grade teacher know that. She said it was a right.

Anyway, this looks like valuable fundme project. Donate to this cause and get these people’s voting rights back. Then, they can vote against DeSantis.

 

[Moot]

Voting is a protected right as per the 14th amendment and a body of legislation and statutory law. All fines must be paid before being allowed to vote is little more than a poll tax.

Seriously, civics lessons with passing grades should be mandatory for anyone even considering running for office or taking a high position in government.

 

[MTAtech]

That which can be conditionally granted by the state is a privilege. That which cannot be removed by the state without due process of law is a right.

The voters overwhelmingly voted to grant them the right to vote. However, DeSantis knows they probably won’t vote the way he likes, so he dreamed up a loophole. The voters had no explanation there were strings attached.

 

[ttwtt78640]

I mean, one could argue that in that case there are no rights, only government granted privileges.

Not so, since a right is present unless (until?) removed by due process of law.

 

[Ikari]

Not so, since a right is present unless (until?) removed by due process of law.

Is not voting a right present unless removed by due process of law?

 

[Rogue Valley]

The GOP always considers voting to be a privilege, especially to people of color.

 

[Cardinal]

Source: (AP) Florida high court sides with governor on felon voter rights

I saw this bit of news come across CTV, and decided to do a little research. Not research into the substance of the ruling, but rather research into the celebratory victory Tweet Governor DeSantis did in response to the ruling.

The DeSantis Tweet segment in question, is the last quote in my O.P. Here it is again below, with my adding emphasis to the part I'm focusing upon:

Voting is a "privilege"? This is the attitude of the FL Republican governor? Whether Fruedian slip or not, I find this statement appalling.

It’s unthinkable to me that this could pass Constitutional muster. There’s just no solid grounding for it.

 

[Cardinal]

I’ll have to let Mrs. Goodman, my third grade teacher know that. She said it was a right.

Anyway, this looks like valuable fundme project. Donate to this cause and get these people’s voting rights back. Then, they can vote against DeSantis.

And how much do you want to bet that if attempts were made to donate to get their voting rights back, DeSantis would make every effort to block those donations?

 

[ttwtt78640]

The voters overwhelmingly voted to grant them the right to vote. However, DeSantis knows they probably won’t vote the way he likes, so he dreamed up a loophole. The voters had no explanation there were strings attached.

The catch is that convicted felons regain the right/privilege to vote only after completion of their (entire) sentence - the court has (so far) decided that law does not state immediately upon release from prison/jail.

In its advisory opinion, the court said only felons who have fully completed their sentences can regain access to the ballot box. And the court agreed with the governor and legislative Republicans that this means all outstanding legal financial obligations, which it referred to as LFOs, must have been satisfied.

If the sentence included victim restitution, probation/parole and/or payments of fines then those obligations (being part of the sentence) must also have been completed.

 

[Chomsky]

What do you consider the difference between a privilege and a right?

Right is inherent. Privilege is granted.

 

[ludin]

Voting is a protected right as per the 14th amendment and a body of legislation and statutory law. All fines must be paid before being allowed to vote is little more than a poll tax.

Seriously, civics lessons with passing grades should be mandatory for anyone even considering running for office or taking a high position in government.

Actually it isn't a poll tax and yes voting is a right until you can lose that right.
in order to get that right back all debts have to be paid.

which means paying your fines.
that is not a poll tax.

 

[Chomsky]

I’ll have to let Mrs. Goodman, my third grade teacher know that. She said it was a right.

Anyway, this looks like valuable fundme project. Donate to this cause and get these people’s voting rights back. Then, they can vote against DeSantis.

I thought of exactly that, as well.

 

[ludin]

It’s unthinkable to me that this could pass Constitutional muster. There’s just no solid grounding for it.

sure there is. part of the sentencing includes fines.
as part of completing the sentencing the person to to pay those fines.

 

[ludin]

I’ll have to let Mrs. Goodman, my third grade teacher know that. She said it was a right.

Anyway, this looks like valuable fundme project. Donate to this cause and get these people’s voting rights back. Then, they can vote against DeSantis.

these people are more than likely not going to vote anyway.

 

[Cardinal]

sure there is. part of the sentencing includes fines.
as part of completing the sentencing the person to to pay those fines.

The problem is that it establishes a poll tax. That’s quite specifically unconstitutional.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Is not voting a right present unless removed by due process of law?

IMHO, yes voting is a right which can be removed by due process of law. Voting, as a right, is also complicated by the requirements of US citizenship and establishing (single/official) state/district residency.

 

[Chomsky]

It’s unthinkable to me that this could pass Constitutional muster. There’s just no solid grounding for it.

There might be. The loophole, which I don't agree with, is called "felony disenfranchisement". And, it has generally been found constitutional. I believe it flies directly against universal suffrage, but the Court has often found otherwise.