While the left and its media acolytes have been busy squeeing the past 24 hours over the fact that former President Donald Trump is a “CONVICTED FELON!!1!!1!” (technically not true until the judge actually enters the judgment of conviction, but that will come shortly, no doubt), many have been speculating as to what that means in practical terms for the former president.
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Sentencing is now set for July 11 (four days before the start of the Republican National Convention), but setting aside the guesses as to what Judge Juan Merchan will do at that point, the conviction could impact some of Trump’s rights, such as the right to carry a firearm (not really an issue for a Secret Service protectee) and the right to vote. Good gracious…does that mean the former (and possibly future) president won’t even be able to vote for himself in November?!
Nah, says Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). One way or another, Trump will get to cast his vote.
Former President Donald Trump hasn’t lost his voting rights in Florida. Rights are not removed in Florida where they haven’t yet been stripped in the convicting jurisdiction.
That said, given the absurd nature of the New York prosecution of Trump, this would be an easy case to qualify for restoration of rights per the Florida Clemency Board, which I chair.
The bottom line is that Donald Trump’s vote this November will be one of millions that demonstrate Florida is now a solid Republican state!
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In other words, Trump hasn’t yet lost the right to vote in New York (and might not ever — in New York, even felons can vote as long as they are not incarcerated), so he hasn’t lost his right to vote in Florida. And even if he were somehow stripped of his right to vote in New York without being incarcerated, the Florida Clemency Board — which DeSantis chairs — would restore that right.
From a practical standpoint, Trump’s virtually assured of a Florida win in November even if he, for some reason, wasn’t allowed to vote for himself — he won the state by 1.2 points in 2016 and almost three-and-a-half points in 2020 and is leading by as much as 11 points in 2024 polling. Still, one suspects the former president will take great pride in formally casting another vote for himself come November and will be able to do so. His one-time fierce primary opponent has made that perfectly clear.
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