Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit announced that ex-felons had failed to prove that the voting requirements in the sunshine state amount to an unconstitutional poll tax.
It was Chief Judge William Pryor who expressed that “because the felons failed to prove violation of the Constitution, we reverse the judgement of the district court and vacate the challenged portions of its injunction.”
This result has generated criticism from Democratic leadership, and one Florida Democrat who is not mincing any words is Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D).
Rep. Charlie Crist, the former Florida Governor who is now running a close reelection campaign against his Republican Rival Anna Paulina Luna, has taken to Twitter to share his disagreement with the Court’s ruling.
Sharing an article discussing how “Florida felons can’t vote until they pay fines, fees,” the Florida lawmaker commented that he is “deeply disappointed by this decision to overrule the will of Florida voters.”
It was in the 2018 midterm elections that more than 65% of the vote was cast in favor of restoring the voting rights of felons that had “completed all of the terms of their sentences.”
Deeply disappointed by this decision to overrule the will of Florida voters. The right to vote doesn’t come with a price tag - it’s a right guaranteed to all Americans, enshrined in our Constitution. This was the wrong call. https://t.co/kBXfiK288U
— Congressman Charlie Crist (@RepCharlieCrist) September 12, 2020
Crist added that “the right to vote doesn’t come with a price tag – it’s a right guaranteed to all Americans, enshrined in our Constitution” before calling the decision “the wrong call.”
The Florida lawmaker has been an active proponent of mail-in-balloting, which Republicans have pushed back against due to concerns of security.
4 steps to vote safely & securely in Pinellas!
1⃣Request your ballot today if you haven’t already at https://t.co/1z486Z1hDj
2⃣Read and follow all instructions
3⃣SIGN & SEAL YOUR BALLOT
4⃣Mail it back ASAP or drop it off at any @VotePinellas location https://t.co/Wzin2CQqWP
— Congressman Charlie Crist (@RepCharlieCrist) August 23, 2020
