CLC Urges Court to Broaden Relief to All Florida Voters with Financial Hardship Before Presidential Primary Election

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Court can ensure a uniform process for all Floridians with financial hardship by granting the Raysor Plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class action.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Judge Robert Hinkle for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida issued an opinion on October 18 granting relief to the 17 plaintiffs represented in the consolidated Jones v. DeSantis cases, and prohibiting the state from denying those individuals the right to vote solely because they are unable to pay outstanding legal financial obligations. Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a brief in federal court requesting that the court extend this relief to all Floridians who are otherwise eligible but are denied the right to vote solely because of their inability to pay. In the decision, the court affirmed that wealth based discrimination in voting is unconstitutional, and that the state must put in place a process by which otherwise eligible citizens who are genuinely unable to pay outstanding financial obligations may register and vote. Class certification will ensure that these citizens are able to obtain meaningful relief from the state. 

"This court has already recognized that Florida can’t deny our clients the right to vote based on lack of wealth. The court should apply that principle to the hundreds of thousands of others in the same position by granting our class action request,” said Paul Smith, vice president at CLC. “To avoid further confusion among voters, it is critical that the state act with urgency to provide a uniform and straightforward process that gives all affected Floridians a chance to exercise their constitutional right to vote. With Florida’s presidential primary registration deadline fast approaching on February 18, there is no time to delay.”