元重罪犯は賠償金など全額払うまで投票不可、米控訴裁

【マイアミＡＦＰ＝時事】】米南部フロリダ州などを管轄する第11巡回区は11日、同州に住む元重罪犯が、州政府に支払うべきあらゆる料金や賠償金を支払うまでは投票できないとの判決を下した。同州は11月の大統領選で結果を左右する激戦州とみられている。（写真は大統領選のポスターを張るフロリダ市民）
　この判決により、フロリダ州の数十万人に影響が及ぶ可能性がある。世論調査によると、ドナルド・トランプ大統領と民主党候補のジョー・バイデン前大統領は同州で接戦を繰り広げている。
　再選を望むトランプ氏にとって、共和党議員が多数を占めるフロリダ州で勝利し、同州の選挙人団２９人を獲得することがきわめて重要だとみられている。
　フロリダ州の有権者は２０１８年、刑期を終えた元重罪犯の投票権を復活させるとする州憲法の改正案を承認。しかし同州議会は、元重罪犯が投票権を復活するには、すべての料金や罰金、費用、補償金も支払わなければならないと定めた法案を可決した。
　地方裁判所はこの条件について、支払い能力がない人から投票権を奪うことになるとして違憲だとの判断を下したが、控訴裁判所では６対４で覆された。
　投票権を求める活動団体「キャンペーン・リーガル・センター」は、判決は「非常に残念」だとし、闘い続けると明言した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/09/14-11:13）

A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that ex-felons in Florida cannot vote until they have paid any fees or fines fees owed to the southern US state expected to play a key role in the November presidential election.
The ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit could impact hundreds of thousands of potential voters in Florida, where polls have President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden neck-and-neck.
Winning the swing state and its 29 Electoral College votes is seen as crucial to Trump's hopes for reelection.
In 2018, Florida voters approved an amendment to the state constitution restoring voting rights to convicted felons who had completed their prison sentences.
But the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a bill stipulating that all fees, fines, costs and restitution must also have been paid.
A lower court ruled the requirement unconstitutional, saying it disenfranchises those unable to pay, but the ruling was overturned 6-4 by the Court of Appeals.
Florida's felon reenfranchisement scheme is constitutional, chief judge William Pryor wrote in the majority opinion.
It falls to the citizens of the State of Florida and their elected state legislators, not to federal judges, to make any additional changes to it, said Pryor, who has been mentioned as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court by Trump in the event of a vacancy.
The Campaign Legal Center, a voting rights activist group, called the ruling deeply disappointing and vowed to continue to fight it.
Nobody should ever be denied their constitutional rights because they can't afford to pay fines and fees, it said in a statement.