Outgoing Florida Governor Rick Scott is finding himself in a bit of controversy after he decided to appeal a federal court ruling that challenged the sunshine state’s felon voting right’s process of restoration.
As it stands, the current plan requires that felons wait five years after completing their sentence, pay restitutions or serve probation, to be able to apply for voting rights and other civil rights.As a result, the Democratic candidates are all lambasting Governor Scott over his decision to appeal.
Andrew Gillum tweeted that “Pam Bondi & Rick Scott are on the wrong side of history with their request to stay Judge Walker’s decision on our rights restoration system. This is an utterly transparent attempt to marginalize & disenfranchise millions of Floridians,” Gillum tweeted. “It should be lost on no one that they filed this appeal on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s tragic assassination. We still have much work to do in this state. #MLK50”
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Chris King stressed in a tweet that “This is an unmitigated outrage. I’ve come to expect nothing less from this Governor.” He also added that “Appeal all you want, but the people of Florida are against you. In November they’ll vote yes on Amendment Four, and a Democratic Governor will ensure it is enforced.”
Former congresswoman Gwen Graham also tweeted out that “Fighting to restrict voting rights on any day is disgraceful. Disenfranchising voters on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination is a slap in the face to King’s legacy and all he fought for. #MLK50.”
Philip Levine also argued that:It's ironic that on the day we honor #MLK50th, @FLGovScott & @PamBondi want to silence over 1.5 million Floridians. #MLK was arrested many times for standing up for what is right and prosecuted for a felony, these laws could have stripped him of his right to vote #sayfie #flapol https://t.co/WwR8MFjnO2
— Mayor Philip Levine (@MayorLevine) April 4, 2018
On the Republican side, both Richard Corcoran and Ron DeSantis have not commented on the matter, but Gary Fineout of the Associated Press did comment that Adam Putnam said that the Judge’s interference is “extreme.” He also said that he wants to improve the process and that “top priority” is making sure that victims are heard.
