Florida Election 2020: Bloomberg Raises Over $16 Million To Help Ex-Felons Regain Right To Vote

Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg raised over $16 million to help 32,000 felons pay outstanding fines and fees to regain their voting rights in Florida, the Associated Press reported.

In 2018, Florida voted to restore felons' voting right after completing their sentences. However, a federal court ruled in early September that in addition to completing their sentences, Florida felons must also pay back any outstanding fines, fees or restitution.

A federal appeal was filed against the new addition but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the registration restrictions on a 6-4 ruling, handing a victory to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has raised $5 million in addition to Bloomberg’s contribution. Voters who were already registered to vote, and had fines and fees of less than $1,500 were eligible for the payback initiative.

"The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and no American should be denied that right,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it.”

Florida’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5 and upwards of 775,000 felons may have outstanding court debts that prohibit them from registering to vote under the current felon voting law.

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has received support from NBA superstar LeBron James and Grammy award winner John Legend. The court ruling has sparked a huge outpouring of aid and they have now taken 44,000 donations in total, Politico reported.

Neil Volz, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition deputy director, said the group paid off fines for nearly 5,000 people and averaged to about $1,000 per person.

Volz added that the average could drop and estimated that the recent contributions can help 20,000 felons pay off their financial obligations.