Judge hits Florida law limiting felon vote in limited ruling

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https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2019/10/18/judge-hits-florida-law-limiting-felon-vote-in-limited-ruling-1225697

Judge hits Florida law limiting felon vote in limited ruling
By GARY FINEOUT 10/18/2019 06:38 PM EDT
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TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Friday blocked a Florida law that puts restrictions on ex-felons seeking to have their voting rights restored, but only as it applies to the 17 people who challenged the law in federal court.

The decision means that the legal battle will churn on in the months ahead of the 2020 election in which President Donald Trump is seeking a second term in office.


U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle said there are sharp questions about whether or not the new law is unconstitutional, but said some questions will be resolved by the Florida Supreme Court or in a future federal trial.

Hinkle rejected a motion by Secretary of State Laurel Lee and Gov. Ron DeSantis to toss the lawsuit outright.

Voters last November passed Amendment 4, which restored voting rights to certain felons who had completed their sentences. Supporters anticipated that the measure would lead to 1.4 million former prisoners being added to the rolls in a battleground state where elections are typically decided on razor-thin margins.