This week we learned former New York City mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg helped raise more than $16 million to help convicted felons in Florida to vote.
In Florida, felons can only vote if they pay government fees and court debts that can sometimes total more than $1,000, according to a law passed in 2018. Bloomberg’s money will allow 32,000 felons regain their ability to vote.
This raises some questions, though:
Is it ethical (or legal) for a former presidential candidate to spend $16 million for this purpose? Not long ago, Bloomberg was in the race for president. Will these voters be swayed to vote Democrat?
Is it fair to keep convicted felons from voting in an election if they can’t pay a certain amount of money? After all, returning felons might have difficulty paying these fees.
Here in Connecticut, felons who owe no fines and complete their prison sentences or are released on probation are allowed to vote. But convicted felons out on parole — roughly 2,000 to 3,000 people — can’t vote. Is this fair?
What do you think? Talk about it with your friends and family!
Photo via Flickr
Felons know what they did. Don’t let them vote they belong in the gutter