Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Amendment4
Most recents (16)
BREAKING: A federal appeals court today upheld a Florida law that created wealth-based hurdles to voting. The decision denies voting rights to hundreds of thousands of people with past felony convictions. #Amendment4 brennancenter.org/our-work/analy…
The case, Jones v DeSantis, concerned Senate Bill 7066, which was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019. This law made voting rights for people with past felony convictions contingent on payment of all legal financial obligations.
It directly undermined Florida voters' overwhelming passage of the Voting Restoration Amendment 4 in 2018, which had restored voting rights to over a million people with past felony convictions.
Today, LDF, @ACLU, @ACLUFL ,@BrennanCenter @CampaignLegal & @splcenter are back in court to fight a racially-biased #polltax that disqualifies formerly incarcerated Floridians from exercising their right to vote.
Watch the 10 am livestream: ca11.uscourts.gov/live-streaming…
Watch the 10 am livestream: ca11.uscourts.gov/live-streaming…
In 2018, voters passed #Amendment4, expanding the right to vote to the formerly incarcerated. Soon after, the FL leg passed #SB7066, placing a financial barrier to the ballot box. LDF has been fighting that #polltax ever since. The fight continues today.
nytimes.com/2020/05/26/opi…
nytimes.com/2020/05/26/opi…
LDF client Raquel Wright is one of the many victims of this incisive attack on #voting rights. While allowed to vote in March, the state's continued effort to disenfranchise voters excludes her and countless others from voting in today's FL primary.
#BREAKING: federal court rules that Florida's "pay-to-vote" system violates the Constitution. More details and full opinion to come--still reading!
The Court held that Florida's "pay-to-vote" system is unconstitutional as applied to individuals who genuinely cannot afford to pay their outstanding legal financial obligations.
It also held that conditioning rights restoration on the payment of court costs and fees is an unconstitutional poll tax, in violation of the 24th Amendment. This is *huge* news: the first time that a court has struck down a rights restoration scheme under the 24th Amendment.
🚨After 7 days in court CLOSING ARGUMENTS in the historic trial to restore the #voting rights of returning citizens will take place in 10 min.
Join @NAACP_LDF, @ACLU, @ACLUFL, @BrennanCenter, @CampaignLegal & @splcenter in court.
Dial: (571) 353-2300;;034872985#
#JonesvDeSantis
Join @NAACP_LDF, @ACLU, @ACLUFL, @BrennanCenter, @CampaignLegal & @splcenter in court.
Dial: (571) 353-2300;;034872985#
#JonesvDeSantis
.@NAACP_LDF Deputy Director of Litigation Leah Aden will kick off closing arguments for the plaintiff side addressing the intentional racial discrimination claim under the 14th & 15th Amendments of the Constitution.
Celebrate #LawDay w/ LDF, @ACLU, @ACLUFL, @BrennanCenter, @CampaignLegal, & @splcenter.
Join us as we fight to uphold the law voters passed that restored #voting rights to Floridians who've experienced prison.
9am EST
Dial-in & code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
#JonesvDeSantis
Join us as we fight to uphold the law voters passed that restored #voting rights to Floridians who've experienced prison.
9am EST
Dial-in & code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
#JonesvDeSantis
The Supervisor's office is the authority on voter registration, yet his office claims he cannot identify outstanding LFOs.
Supervisor Bennett: "There’s no database in the state of FL to check all of the different court costs that might be outstanding."
#JonesvDeSantis
Supervisor Bennett: "There’s no database in the state of FL to check all of the different court costs that might be outstanding."
#JonesvDeSantis
🚨Day 4 of the trial to restore #voting rights to people who have experienced incarceration begins now.
LDF's @Jennyhooo & Leah Aden will take the testimonies of 2 brave clients.
Dial-in & access code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
Follow us for live updates.
#JonesvDeSantis
LDF's @Jennyhooo & Leah Aden will take the testimonies of 2 brave clients.
Dial-in & access code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
Follow us for live updates.
#JonesvDeSantis
LDF Assistant Counsel @Jennyhooo has begun taking Ms. Marsha Ellison's testimony. Ms. Ellison has lived in FL for over 35 years, is the elected treasurer of the @FLNAACP, and sits on @NAACP committees.
#JonesvDeSantis
#JonesvDeSantis
.@Jennyhooo: Have you observed economic hardship particular to them as returning citizens?
Ms. Ellison: “Yes..once the individual is released...finding employment can be impossible."
#JonesvDeSantis
Ms. Ellison: “Yes..once the individual is released...finding employment can be impossible."
#JonesvDeSantis
Day 2 of the #JonesvDeSantis trial done. What have we learned so far? A lot! Mostly we've learned that the State of Florida is wedded to defending a system of poll taxes that they don't even know how to implement.
We started with the inspiring testimony of Plaintiff Moreland. Ms. Moreland and people like her are why we are fighting this fight. After #Amendment4 passed, she registered to vote. But later in 2019, she found out she still owes $$ from a yrs old conviction.
Under this new law, these fines and fees would stand in the way of her ability to vote. #polltax And even though @GovRonDeSantis lost in every court so far on this law, she was removed from the rolls earlier this year. While she has been reinstated, so many others are at risk.
Welcome to day 2 of the #JonesvDeSantis voting rights trial.
To listen to the trial live:
Dial-in & access code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
Or follow @NAACP_LDF for updates throughout the day.
To listen to the trial live:
Dial-in & access code:
(571) 353-2300;;034872985#
Or follow @NAACP_LDF for updates throughout the day.
Haughwout, a public defender of Palm Beach County, FL is on the witness stand.
She estimates 90% are simply unable to pay back their fees & could afford to pay maybe $25 -$50 monthly. Minimum fees alone $768 & associated costs quickly add to the total debt.
#JonesvDeSantis
She estimates 90% are simply unable to pay back their fees & could afford to pay maybe $25 -$50 monthly. Minimum fees alone $768 & associated costs quickly add to the total debt.
#JonesvDeSantis
Haughwout: "When people can't keep up with their payment plan it's turned to a civil judgement & over to collection agency...the DMV is notified..drivers licenses are suspended...a 30% agency fee gets tacked onto the balance.
It just goes up from there." 🚨
#JonesvDeSantis
It just goes up from there." 🚨
#JonesvDeSantis
The passage of #SB7066 enacted a modern-day poll tax. However, our brave clients won’t let their voices be silenced. Meet some of the plaintiffs in #JonesvDeSantis.
Latoya Moreland: Mother. Advocate. Voter.
On March 17th, Latoya was finally able to use her #Amendment4 right to vote. Legal fees she can't afford to pay kept her shut out of our democracy, but she didn't give up--and she won't until every returning citizen can cast a ballot.
On March 17th, Latoya was finally able to use her #Amendment4 right to vote. Legal fees she can't afford to pay kept her shut out of our democracy, but she didn't give up--and she won't until every returning citizen can cast a ballot.
Latoya Moreland has taken the witness stand. She's has discussed how overjoyed she felt to be able to register to vote and have the opportunity to cast a ballot. She felt like her daughter, who voted for #Amendment4, had her voice heard.
Judge Hinkle has just kicked off the first-ever digital trial, #JonesvDesantis. Here’s a refresher on the case! (1/5)
In 2018, over 5 million Floridians voted for the ballot measure known as #Amendment4. By changing the Florida State Constitution to allow formerly incarcerated individuals to vote, over 1 million Floridians regained their voting rights. (2/5) theintercept.com/2018/11/03/flo…
Soon after #Amendment4’s passage, The FL Legislature passed State Bill 7066 (#SB7066), which requires all fines and fees to be paid before a formerly incarcerated person is allowed to vote. This has effectively re-disenfranchised millions. (3/5) vox.com/policy-and-pol…
Today the 11th Circuit court denied Governor Ron DeSantis’ request for a rehearing of its decision in Jones v. DeSantis which upheld a lower court ruling blocking the Florida law that said people with convictions have to pay fees and fines before getting voting rights restored.
“This is a victory for people with past criminal convictions and their right to participate in democracy,” the Brennan Center’s @SMoralesDoyle said. #Amendment4
“The Eleventh Circuit has yet again rejected the State of Florida’s attempts to overturn a ruling that Florida is violating the U.S. Constitution by denying the right to vote to people because of their inability to pay fines and fees.” - @SMoralesDoyle #Amendment4
Today, we celebrate a meaningful victory for democracy--Raquel Wright voted early in FL! 🗳️
Ms. Wright, a formerly-incarcerated Floridian, is a #votingrights advocate & plaintiff in Jones v. DeSantis--a lawsuit we filed to challenge #SB7066.
#WomensHistoryMonth
Ms. Wright, a formerly-incarcerated Floridian, is a #votingrights advocate & plaintiff in Jones v. DeSantis--a lawsuit we filed to challenge #SB7066.
#WomensHistoryMonth
In 2019, FL passed #Amendment4, a law to restore #votingirghts to the formerly incarcerated.
In response, the FL legislature enacted SB 7066. It placed a modern-day #polltax upon those same returning citizens forcing some to pay up to $50,000 in fees.
independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…
In response, the FL legislature enacted SB 7066. It placed a modern-day #polltax upon those same returning citizens forcing some to pay up to $50,000 in fees.
independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…
A narrow, meaningful victory was won in February, when the 11th Circuit Court upheld a ruling blocking SB 7066.
But we will not stop until all formerly-incarcerated Floridians can exercise their #votingrights as #Amendment4 intended.
Learn more here: naacpldf.org/press-release/…
But we will not stop until all formerly-incarcerated Floridians can exercise their #votingrights as #Amendment4 intended.
Learn more here: naacpldf.org/press-release/…
Since the destructive 2013 #ShelbyCounty decision, a wave of voter suppression practices have been allowed to keep citizens locked out of the voting booth. With the #VotingRightsAct gutted, discriminatory practices have diluted the voice of many people of color.
In 2016 we released #DemocracyDiminished, chronicling the new wave of threats citizens faced while trying to vote in the wake of the #ShelbyCounty decision. bit.ly/2IcNgm1
In 2018 voter suppression tactics were deployed to deny many Black citizens their constitutional right to vote. Even after Floridians overwhelmingly voted for #Amendment4 to restore voting rights to returning citizens, legislators have blocked persons with debts from registering.
The #Florida Supreme Court issued a decision this morning permitting a modern-day poll tax and redefining the voter-approved #Amendment4.
tampabay.com/florida-politi…
tampabay.com/florida-politi…
See thread for SPLC's Nancy Abudu's statement to the decision:
“The #Florida Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing and cuts the 1.4 million people who voters expressly intended to re-enfranchise almost in half.
“The #Florida Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing and cuts the 1.4 million people who voters expressly intended to re-enfranchise almost in half.
#AskGregAQuestion: I was purged — how do we fight back? How important are Exit Polls? What about #VoterSuppression in Ohio? Why won’t the Dems go after Crosscheck? facebook.com/notes/greg-pal…
#AskGregAQuestion: Has #RonDeSantis and his GOP Legislature derailed the #Amendment4 that Floridians enacted? facebook.com/notes/greg-pal… #Florida
#AskGregAQuestion: How important are #ExitPolls for the #DemocraticPrimary? facebook.com/notes/greg-pal…
Happy #Amendment4 Day, Florida!
This thread of stories from folks registering to vote in Florida today is my favorite thing rn #Amendment4
Aw ❤️ #Amendment4
