This ProPublica investigation tells the story of ten Florida men convicted of felonies and charged with voter fraud.  In 2018, Florida voters passed Amendment 4.  It restored the voting rights of most state residents with felony convictions.  A later law enacted by the Republican state legislature limited this right.  People convicted of felonies could only vote after they paid any penalties related to their crimes.  If they registered without doing so, they could face felony charges for voter fraud.

This new system created quagmires.  Without a centralized database, it was virtually impossible to determine a person’s financial dues. These commonly include fines, restitution, and court fees.  And it costs money to access the county records needed to piece together how much one must pay.  People with felony convictions often already owe thousands of dollars.

Still, the State charged individuals who did not realize they were ineligible to vote because of this requirement.  It did so even after a county election official reached out to the inmates encouraging them to register.  Now, four out of ten men charged have pleaded guilty.  Their sentences span 364 days to three years.  The remaining six could face up to five years in prison, five years of probation, or $5,000 in fines.  Eight of the men are Black; two are white.  Although the prosecutor subsequently installed a program for individuals convicted of felonies to check their voting eligibility, the men facing felony charges have received no reprieve.