High Court Won't Revisit Fla. Felon Voting

AP ^ | 11/14/5 | GINA HOLLAND

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court refused Monday to review Florida's lifetime ban on voting rights for convicted felons, a case that would have had national implications for millions of would-be voters.

Justices declined to hear a challenge to Florida's 19th century ban, which applies to inmates and those who have served their time and been released.

Felons are kept from voting in every state but Maine and Vermont, although restrictions vary.

The issue of voter eligibility got renewed attention after the 2000 presidential election, which was decided by fewer than 600 votes in Florida.

The Florida appeal had been closely watched, because lower courts have been fractured in similar voting cases. Minority and voting rights groups urged justices to hear the case.

"The court not only missed an opportunity to right a great historic injustice, it has shut the courthouse door in the face of hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised citizens," Catherine Weiss, the Brennan Center for Justice lawyer for the Florida ex-felons, said Monday.

The Florida law was contested in 2000 in Miami on behalf of people who have already completed their punishments, including probation or parole.

Their appeal asked if restrictions can be challenged under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which removed barriers to black voters.

One in 10 black Florida adults, not counting current prisoners, is barred from voting, the court was told.

[SmithL]

This only means that they can't vote legally.

[curtisgardner]

and Dems will find a way for them to vote illegally.

[Dog Gone]

The Florida law was contested in 2000 in Miami on behalf of people who have already completed their punishments, including probation or parole.

Au contraire, they haven't finished their punishment of a lifetime ban against voting.

[VeniVidiVici]

Florida also has a process for felons to seek their voting rights, but there is no guarantee of success.

Of course, buried deep in the article and no qualifier to boot.

There is no guarantee this writer will have a job tomorrow. Life is full of no guarantees.

[Puppage]

and Dems will find a way for them to vote illegally

I think they have to die first./sarc

[goldstategop]

It disappoints Democrats that they've been shut out of a treasure trove of captive votes: murderers, rapists, robbers and thugs. The League Of Lawless Rogues. Felons shouldn't be allowed to vote behind bars. Its makes a mockery of their exclusion from society.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Tarpon]

So ex-felons are Dems? Who would have thought that.

[Ouderkirk]

"The court not only missed an opportunity to right a great historic injustice, it has shut the courthouse door in the face of hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised citizens," Catherine Weiss, the Brennan Center for Justice lawyer for the Florida ex-felons,

You should have thought of that before you comitted and were convicted of that felony. Just one more legitimate reason to not commit crimes against your fellow citizens

[goldstategop]

Life doesn't come with guarantees. But the Democrats are desperate for voters - including those at the bottom of the barrel.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

Felons are Dems. The ultimate welfare constituency.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[MinuteGal]

Oh, boy. Hillary isn't going to like this AT ALL.

She was trying this past year to get a base of voting ex-felons established whom she would court and then get them to vote for her.

She could add a base of ex-cons to her base of lesbians, gays, commies, socialists, baby-slayers, feminazis, UN lovers, hate-America crazies, illegals, lotus-eaters....well, you know her gig.

All weird bases would belong to her.

Leni

[goresalooza]

About time the SCOTUS got one right! HAHAHA...funny thing is, most of these losers who "do their time" could care less about voting. Of course, that's why the rats want them to vote. The rats are probably mailing them absentee ballots from other states. I'm still shocked that Bush got 350K votes more in FL than yawn kerry in 2004. kerry played dismally though.

Don't be messing with my red state's rights...I love it!

[b4its2late]

Heck, since the dems can make a dead man vote, felons are not a problem at all.

[T.L.Sink]

At least they recognize an important part of their party base!

[GSlob]

To prevent vote fraud, branding (on the forehead and on all four cheeks) would come handy.

[adorno]

Life doesn't come with guarantees. But the Democrats are desperate for voters - including those at the bottom of the barrel.

Just imagine how many more voters the democrats would have if they didn't have so many felons unable to vote. Then imagine how many more voters they would have if they didn't abort so many of their potential voters.

The republicans would have to go beggin for some election victories.

But, then, the republicans could win so many more elections if the democrats didn't have so many dead people voting. Ant republicans could win so many more elections if illegal aliens were to be forbidden from voting. And, we could go undefeated in almost all elections if democrats were not allowed to vote more than once.

[digger48]

lesbians, gays, commies, socialists, baby-slayers, feminazis, UN lovers, hate-America crazies, illegals, lotus-eaters...

But the rest of the country is "out-of-the-mainstream"

[jmq]

Okay, my 2cents(not 50 cent) I think it should be tied to the restoration of rights for guns to former felons after an appropriate period of time and not for certain violent crimes. Clinton defunded. Bush is too wussy to reinstate. Most felons I know hit a wall at 40 and get too old for that life-style and become conservative. ( A criminal defense lawyer.)

[TheHound]

"The court not only missed an opportunity to right a great historic injustice, it has shut the courthouse door in the face of hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised citizens," Catherine Weiss, the Brennan Center for Justice lawyer for the Florida ex-felons, said Monday.

I believe the Dims are also trying to give 14 year olds a half a vote. Anything to help their base.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Felons are kept from voting in every state but Maine and Vermont

Unless the law changed since the 2004 election, not only can felons vote in Massachusetts, they can even vote absentee while they are in the pen.

No "19th Century Law" here. Enlightened 20th Century liberalism... but what do you expect in a franchise of the Kennedy Crime Family?

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F