Payment of Fines & Completion of Probation Reinstates Right to Vote

Post 4576

Posted on November 5, 2026 by Barry Zalma

To Restore Voting Rights The Felon Must Pay Fines of $546.00

In Florida Supreme Court Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee, ETH F-26-377, No. F-26-377 (October 29, 2026) citizen unnamed and to Ron Desantis Governor, Cord Byrd the Secretary of State Florida Division of Elections provided an advisory opinion to a convicted felon about his right to vote:

To: [redacted] We received your request for an advisory opinion. You indicate that you have one or more felony convictions and request whether you are eligible to vote, including whether you have any outstanding legal financial obligations under section 98.0751, Florida Statutes, and, if so, a statement of the amount that must be paid to make you eligible to vote, and an explanation of how the amount was calculated.

The Division hereby responds to your request pursuant to its legal authority under section 106.23(2), Florida Statutes, and Florida Administrative Code Rule 1S-2.010, to provide an advisory opinion to you as an individual seeking to be involved in a political activity (voting) and the particular activity in your inquiry (eligibility to vote).

Per Rule 1S-2.010(4)(f), the requestor must provide the precise factual circumstances giving rise to the request. In your request, you identify yourself as “[Redacted]” and give your date of birth as [Redacted]. You have provided case numbers for (3) case(s) in Seminole Comity and (4) case(s) in Alachua County, Florida.

The Division was able to determine the following:

In Seminole County:

[Redacted] As it relates to case [Redacted], our records indicate that were convicted of FELONY CRIMINAL USE OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION. As part of your sentence, you were ordered to pay $1,084.00 in fines, fees, and costs. Our records indicate that you have paid $630.00 towards fines, fees, and costs. Based on the information we have received as of the date of this letter, the remaining amount that you must pay to restore your voting rights as relating to this sentence is $454.00.
[Redacted] As it relates to [Redacted], our records indicate you were not convicted of a felony in this case. Only a felony conviction makes you ineligible to vote in Florida. See Art. VI, § 4, Fla. Const. (“No person convicted of a felony . . . shall be qualified to vote or hold office until restoration of civil rights or removal of disability.”). As such, based on the information we have received as of the date of this letter, you do not owe any fines, fees, or costs associated with a felony conviction in this case.

In Alachua County:

[Redacted]

As it relates to [Redacted], our records indicate the state abandoned its prosecution. Accordingly, you were not convicted of a felony in this case. Only a felony conviction makes you ineligible to vote in Florida. See Art. VI, § 4, Fla. Const. (“No person convicted of a felony . . . shall be qualified to vote or hold office until restoration of civil rights or removal of disability.”). As such, based on the information received as of the date of this letter, you do not owe any fines, fees, or costs associated with a felony conviction in this case.

[Redacted]

3 As it relates to [Redacted], our records indicate that you were convicted of FELONY FRAUD: INSURANCE FRAUD LESS THAN 20K DOLLARS. As part of your sentence, you were ordered to pay $3,536.28 in fines, fees, and costs. Our records indicate that you have paid $3,536.28 towards fines, fees, and costs.

3. [Redacted]

You were convicted of FELONY FRAUD: COMMIT MORTGAGE FRAUD LESS THAN 100K DOLLAR. As part of your sentence, you were ordered to pay $546.00 in fines, fees, and costs. The records indicate that you have paid $0.00 towards fines, fees, and costs. The remaining amount that you must pay to restore your voting rights as relating to this sentence is $546.00

CONCLUSION

We conclude, based upon the information we located, that you are ineligible to vote.

ZALMA OPINION

All types of fraud, including insurance fraud, as felonies deprive an individual, convicted of the felony not only must serve time in jail for the felonies, pay fines and restitution, and lose the right to vote until all fines and restitution are paid. The felon, seeking advice from the state, learned about his right to vote or not vote under Florida laws after his convictions for various types of felony fraud, including insurance fraud.

(c) 2026 Barry Zalma

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