Supreme Court Refuses to Revisit Felon Voting Ban
In 2000, Bush reportedly won the Florida election by 600 votes. Due to a law enacted in the 19th Century, felony offenders are permanently denied the right to vote, even those who have served their sentences.
There are 600,000 felons in Florida who have completed their sentences and supervision terms. One in 10 African American adults in Florida,not counting those currently incarcerated, is prohibited from voting.
The Supreme Court was presented with a chance to review the issue and today decided to let the ban remain in effect without any review. The case is Johnson v. Bush, 05-212.
"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.
Courts in other states have ruled for the ex-offenders:
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