More than 400,000 former felons in Florida are now awaiting a ruling by a federal judge in Tallahassee that could pave the way for them to vote, even if they can’t afford to pay the fines and fees issued as part of their sentences.
Closing arguments on Wednesday in the closely watched trial in Tallahassee centered on whether the 2019 law requiring fines, fees and restitution be paid before being allowed to vote was racially motivated and whether throwing out the law would invalidate the voter-approved Amendment 4 itself.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who had previously issued an injunction allowing the lawsuit’s 17 plaintiffs to register to vote if they could prove an “inability to pay,” said last month he would apply his new ruling to all ex-felons who can’t afford to pay.