During a hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle asked lawyers to weigh in on whether a 2018 amendment allowing certain felons to vote is constitutional.
The American Civil Liberties Union argues lawmakers violated the constitution when they implemented the amendment. Their bill requires felons to pay back all fines, fees, and restitution before voting. The group claims it’s a poll tax. But lawmakers argue they simply followed the amendment voters passed.
Now Hinkle is questioning if the poll tax was created by the Amendment itself does it make the amendment unconstitutional. He wants both sides to address the issue.
