Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, is residing in Florida - a state notorious for its stringent voting restrictions on felons. However, he remains eligible to vote as long as he avoids incarceration in New York.
This unique situation arises from Florida's policy of adhering to the disenfranchisement rules of other states for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trump's case, New York law only revokes voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies while they are incarcerated.
Upon release from prison, their voting rights are automatically restored, even if they are on parole, thanks to a 2021 law passed by New York's Democratic-controlled legislature.
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Donald Trump was said to be red with anger as the result was read out (Getty Images)Blair Bowie from the Campaign Legal Center clarified in a blog post that "If a Floridian's voting rights are restored in the state of conviction, they are restored under Florida law," highlighting how Florida's complex rules can be baffling without the kind of legal support Trump has.
As long as Trump stays out of prison, he will be able to cast his vote in Florida in the upcoming November election, reports the Mirror US.
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"His rights depend on his sentencing," noted Michael McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida who specializes in the states felony disenfranchisement rules, on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Trump was convicted on Thursday for falsifying business records in a scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election through covert payments to an adult film star who alleged a sexual encounter with him.
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Despite being a native New Yorker, Trump shifted his residency to Florida in 2019 during his presidency. Even if he secures the presidency again, Trump won't be able to pardon himself from state charges in New York as the power of presidential pardon only applies to federal crimes.
Even a conviction or imprisonment wouldn't deter Trump from pursuing the White House. The Republican National Convention, which begins four days after his July 11 sentencing date in New York, established rules last year that didn't include any provisions if its presumptive nominee is found guilty of a crime.
Delegates could modify their rules before finalising Trump's nomination, but there's no indication that a significant portion of the party would attempt to replace the former president on the GOP ticket. Trump has a strong following within the GOP base, and his loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair, control the Republican National Committee.
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