Even funnier when you consider he worked out how to game the system and is only paying off the debts of African Americans and Latinos who are registered to vote.
Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
11–20 of 67 posts
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#12Florida law on this should be concerning for Bloomberg:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20St...
Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084 for the first conviction, and a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, for any subsequent conviction. (2) No person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that person’s or another’s vote or to corruptly influence that person or another in casting his or her vote. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, this subsection shall not apply to the serving of food to be consumed at a political rally or meeting or to any item of nominal value which is used as a political advertisement, including a campaign message designed to be worn by a person.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#13Florida law on this should be concerning for Bloomberg: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20St... Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, pu…
No, Bloomberg does not have anything to fear from claims of bribery or trying to buy votes. As long as this policy is applied to anyone who applies for it regardless of any stated voting intention. It is not illegal for political parties to provide rides to the voting booth as long as they offer it to anyone who asks and do not try to influence the voter.
In this case Bloomberg is making a guess as to the voting intentions of this group, but there is nothing illegal about this guess as long as there is no quid pro quo either stated or implied.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#14This is an actual case of billionaires buying votes, even if the system that disallows voting for inmates is kind of archaic.
Those inmates can vote for whoever they want and it probably won't be for the guy who wrote the 1994 Crime Bill.
Yeah, who cares if migrants are having their uteruses removed, the guy isn't woke enough.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#15Florida law on this should be concerning for Bloomberg: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20St... Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, pu…
No, Bloomberg does not have anything to fear from claims of bribery or trying to buy votes. As long as this policy is applied to anyone who applies for it regardless of any stated voting intention. It is not illegal for political parties to provide rides to the voting booth as long as they offer it to anyone who asks and do not try to influence the voter. In this case Bloomberg is making a guess as to the voting inte…
Isn't this basically the same as offering disabled or infirm people a lift to the polling place?
He's spending some money on enabling some people to vote. The difference is that the resource he spends is money, instead of the use of people's time and vehicles.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#16Florida law on this should be concerning for Bloomberg: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20St... Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, pu…
As long as he pays off the fines unconditionally, without asking them who they'd vote for, then I don't see a problem here.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#17Wait. Not only people can buy votes, but people with debts cannot vote??
Yeah, democracy.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#18Florida law on this should be concerning for Bloomberg: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20St... Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, pu…
As long as he pays off the fines unconditionally, without asking them who they'd vote for, then I don't see a problem here.
"No person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that person’s or another’s vote or to corruptly influence that person or another in casting his or her vote."
Bloomberg has also pledged $100 million to Biden's campaign and ran as a Democrat in the primary.
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#19What a backward requirement
Re: Bloomberg pays off $20m debts of 31,000 felons so they can vote in Florida
#20The original fact that you can't be in debt to vote is quite abhorrent. In other times this would be quite the scandal. Given that right the Florida government is actively engaging in voter suppression though...
As a convicted felon in FL you need to have completely full filled the terms of your sentence from the courts in order to have your voting rights restored. This sentence may include the payment of fines or restitution. It is the failure to pay these court ordered payments and therefore completing the terms of their sentence which prevents a convicted felon from being able to vote.
General debts do not prevent someone that is or isn't a convicted felon from voting.