I would love to hear the legal rationale for that suit, since it has always been taken for granted that committing a felony usually forfeits the right to vote in US elections. Unless they are arguing against that principle, it is hard to see how the suit can have any merit.


Which is a decent argument—that the LEGAL (not electoral) system is racially biased. Responding to that by altering election law rather misses the point, at the expense of restoring voting rights to many rightfully incarcerated felons who have no business voting. Given the popularity referenda substituting democracy for republicanism, that is ill-advised, since even in a strictly republican system it could result in felons retroactively exonerating themselves by electing representatives who repeal laws against their crimes. "When outlaws have votes, nothing will be outlawed," or something.


Last I heard, FL was getting hit over claims of racism for wanting it to be permanent, again, even for people who committed their crimes in other states that have since restored their voting rights. In other words, if you robbed a liquor store in VA 25 years ago, VA may have forgiven you, but FL NEVER will. Florida also got in trouble in 2004 for mass registration purges immediately before the election, not only because of the draconian nature of their laws, but because the purges incidentally and erroneously affected many non-felons. The case that stuck in my mind was a US Congresswoman denied the right to vote because she had been purged from the registrar on the grounds she was a felon.

It may be more appropriate in the other sub-thread, but I am reminded of a comment in one of the articles on 2004 election irregularities:


That, in so many ways, may be the core problem with government in modern America (among other places, e.g. Greece:) We expect government to serve us, but also expect it at no cost, because we are entitled to its services as taxpayers. That logic is only practical to the extent we actually ARE taxpayers. Or to quote a line popular at Mission Control since before I was born, "when 200 miles in the air at 30,000 mph, remember: You're doing it on lowest bid.... "