Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has helped raise more than $16 million so convicted felons, who have completed their prison sentences, can vote in November’s presidential election. Bloomberg had previously pledged $100 million to help VP Joe Biden win the state of Florida.
Bloomberg’s announcement comes just days after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) won a court victory keeping felons from voting until they paid off fines, restitution and court fees related to their cases.
Bloomberg’s effort is helping to pay off the debts. And the initiative is focused on Hispanic and Black convicted felons, according to a report in Breitbart.
“The Bloomberg effort, which will be pooled with about $5 million already raised by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, is narrowly focused only on Black and Hispanic voters who are already registered to vote and whose debts are less than $1,500,” The Washington Post reports which was highlighted by Breitbart.
The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg stepped in and helped to raise almost $17 million more. This according to Bloomberg staffers.
The effort stands to effect 31,100 people.
Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons