Thanks, Mike
Mike Bloomberg just raised $16 million to erase the fines of former felons who are already registered to vote and the fines are the only thing holding them back. That’s smart money because this effort targeted Hispanic and Black voters with fines under $1,500 – a group most likely votes and votes heavily Democratic.
In real numbers that’s about 32,000 Black and Hispanic votes that are now taken off the table.
The Bloomberg memo pointed out that the 31,790 targeted voters, including 25,548 who are Black, are nearly equivalent to the margin by which Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) won election in 2018, and about three times as big as the margin that elected Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) that same year.
Thanks, Mike.
I read somewhere that there’s not a court clerk in florida who’s able to say how much ANY ex-felon needs to pay, so they’re not taking any money at all, and not letting them vote.
1The amount that Bloomberg raised and donated was $16 million, not $16,000. Maybe that can be corrected? Thank you!
2Earlier it was reported that Magic Mike had raised $16 million. Would the discrepancy be a decimal point typo or is $16,000 the amount Mike has turned over to aid those being disenfranchised in FL?
Mr. Phillips @1, if Republicons were authentic, it’s not difficult to arrange blanket payment to clear the debts. Between Bloomberg’s effort and LeBron James, the money has been made available.
3I’m fixing it. Thank you.
4Just another case of Republicans doing whatever is necessary to undermine democracy.
The people worked to get the initiative to return the vote to Florida’s ex-felons on the ballot in 2018. Then the legislature immediately took that vote away again by levying a poll-tax on those who had been re-enfranchised.
Way to go, Florida.
If charles phillips @1 heard right, I’m not surprised at all. Florida really, really wants democracy dead. It proves it every day.
5Charles Phillips @1 I had heard that too. I just checked the website of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, and in an aricle as of yesterday they’re not saying that. They say 5000 felons already have had fines paid off and voting rights restored, and that funds are still coming in. The deadline, though, is in early October, so time is growing short. One can imagine some Boss Hogg county clerk pleading disorganization and overwork for why he only got to the payoff applications for a few ex-Aryan Nation felons, and not the large number of melanin-challenged masses.
6When you say Bloomberg “raised $16 million” I’m assuming one the maids found it under the couch cushions. Never mind, it’s still good news. Money and politics don’t have to be a toxic mixture. Besides, none of the people who had their fines paid is obligated to vote Democratic, or to vote at all.
7C&L had this post from 9/21 saying what charles phillips @1 read:
https://crooksandliars.com/2020/09/think-florida-making-ex-felons-pay-vote .
Since the WaPo article is dated today maybe it’s been resolved.
8Last night the talking heads on Fox were on fire about this with Congressman Matt Gaetz saying that they were going to the FL AG and seeking criminal charges against Bloomberg. Boy, they really hate it when people vote. Won’t it be poetic justice when these votes tilt the election to VP Biden?
9Overall restoration number was 1.4 million eligible.
Issues of paying “all fines, fees and restitution” estimated to impact 775,000. In some cases, Florida didn’t really bother to keep track of what fees were assessed, what payments were made (and how they were apportioned among what was owed). In some, especially recent cases, the dollars owed were fairly clear.
So, 625,000 apparently could register. Others could register but then were put in limbo because they don’t know how much they owe. And the current effort is trying to deal with those who ALREADY registered, who know how much they owe, and couldn’t pay it. So they don’t want to vote (and possibly face another felony charge). If the money is paid, they can freely vote.
I can’t find estimates of how many of those who had paid all their debts to society actually registered. And not all who registered will actually vote — but I’m thinking a boost of even 100,000 new voters could well pass the margin of victory for DeSantis and Scott.
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