Trump's felon status won't prevent him from voting according to Florida law

While Florida typically makes it difficult for individuals with felony convictions to regain their voting rights, former President Donald Trump will have no trouble casting his ballot today. Earlier this year, he was convicted in Manhattan on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election to adult film star Stormy Daniels. As the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony, Trump is set to be sentenced on November 26.

Under Florida law, voters with out-of-state felony convictions follow the laws of their respective states regarding the restoration of voting rights. For Trump, this means he will benefit from a New York law enacted in 2021 that allows individuals with felony convictions to vote as long as they are not incarcerated at the time of the election.

In contrast, the process is far more complicated for other Floridians with felony convictions. A successful 2018 ballot initiative aimed at restoring voting rights to those who have completed their sentences was undermined by state Republican lawmakers, who passed legislation requiring that all fines and fees associated with a conviction be paid. This can be a cumbersome process, as there is no centralized system to track outstanding fees.

As for Trump's performance in the election, his top advisers are cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that turnout will be the crucial factor in determining success. “We believe that if those who are expected to support President Trump actually show up, he should win. It’s all about achieving that. It’s very close,” a senior adviser told CNN. 

They argue that this election cycle represents Trump’s strongest performance to date, particularly when compared to polling from 2016 and 2020. They referenced a final NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll from the 2020 election, which indicated Biden leading Trump by 10 points among registered voters.

However, there is concern within Trump’s team regarding a potential decrease in what they have identified as “silent” Trump voters—those who supported him in previous elections without publicly revealing their intentions. “In the past, turnout for him was often unexpectedly high, especially in 2016, and many voters kept their support private, which didn't always get captured in the data. It’s uncertain if we will see that kind of dynamic this time around,” a source close to Trump shared with CNN.