'More Than A Vote' to pay fines for Floridians

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The group, which includes LeBron James and other high-profile Black athletes and artists, is raising money to help provide financial assistance to Floridians who must pay outstanding fees relating to felony convictions before they are able to vote.

More Than A Vote, founded by James, said it will donate the money to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition successfully worked in 2018 to have a state constitutional amendment passed that lifted Florida’s lifetime voting ban on those with felony convictions.

Before the amendment, Florida had the highest number of disenfranchised felons in the U.S. The ruling gave voting rights back to an estimated 1.4 million people in the infamous battleground state.

Earlier this year the state’s Legislature passed a law that requires those with felony convictions to first pay outstanding court debts and fees before they can register to vote.

The Supreme Court upheld the voting law last week.

The coalition has already raised $1.5 million for its “Amendment 4 Fines and Fees Campaign,” Politico reported.