Newsletter: Felony Disenfranchisement

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Publication
Daily Kos

Following Florida Republicans' recent enactment of a poll tax on citizens who've served their felony sentences but still have outstanding debts, no fewer than four lawsuits have been filed in federal court challenging the legislation as unconstitutional and discriminatory against black voters. The first three cases, brought by a wide array of plaintiffs with the backing of civil rights groups such as the ACLU, NAACP, and Campaign Legal Center, have already been consolidated into a single set of proceedings; a fourth lawsuit has also been filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. However, federal court isn't the only venue where opponents of this poll tax are fighting back. Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, a Democrat, said his office is looking into creating a "rocket docket" that would allow judges to speedily waive outstanding fines and fees for those eligible to have their rights restored.

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