Several convicted felons in Florida who served their time, registered to vote, and cast ballots in the 2020 election are facing uncertainty as they wait to see if they will be punished for what they claim was an honest mistake. They believed their voting rights had been restored in 2018 with an amendment, but it did not apply to those with convictions for murder or sex offenses. The Florida Supreme Court is now involved in determining the outcome of their cases.
One such case is that of Terry Hubbard, who served time for sexual battery and registered to vote in 2019, believing he was eligible. He is now facing the possibility of returning to prison after charges were filed against him. The state argued that cases like Hubbard’s involve votes in statewide races, not just local ones.
While there have been allegations of voter fraud in Florida after the 2020 election, none of the cases involving these convicted felons suggest fraud on a scale that could have impacted the election results. The Florida Attorney General’s Office has filed briefs with the Supreme Court, arguing that the cases must be tried in accordance with the law.
Despite the controversy surrounding their voting, the outcome of these cases is not expected to have had any impact on the results of the elections in question. The felons involved have argued that they were unaware of the restrictions on their voting rights and thought their registration cards confirmed their eligibility. The state, however, maintains that the law must be upheld in these cases.
Source
Photo credit www.sun-sentinel.com