Florida

Did Bloomberg Pay Fines for 31,000 Florida Felons So They Can Vote?
Under Florida law, some convicted felons may have their voting rights reinstated if they fulfill all requirements — including monetary — of their court-ordered sentencing.

Madison Dapcevich
Published 29 September 2020

Billionaire and former presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg raised more than $16 million to pay the fines and restitution of convicted felons in Florida so that they are able to register to vote ahead of the 2020 general election.

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Billionaire philanthropist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg raised more than $16 million to pay the fines, fees, and restitution of roughly 31,000 convicted felons in Florida to restore their voting rights in advance of the 2020 general election.

Bloomberg’s donation added to the $5 million that was raised by the nonpartisan voting rights advocacy group Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), as was first reported by Axios. According to a Sept. 22 news release, FRRC announced that it had raised $20 million of its $25 million goal to pay the fines and fees — not exceeding $1,500 — for formerly incarcerated citizens returning to society so that they are eligible to vote in the 2020 general election. That deadline is two weeks in advance of Florida’s voter registration deadline of Oct. 5.

More: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bloomberg-pay-florida-felons-vote/