Florida asks appeals court to put voting ruling on hold

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is asking a federal appeals court to put a voting rights ruling on hold.

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to place a stay on a decision made by U.S. District Judge Walker.

Walker ruled Florida’s current system of restoring voting rights to former prisoners is flawed. He blocked the system of forcing ex-felons to wait at least five years before they can have the right to vote. Walker gave state officials until April 26 to create a new process.

State officials appealed Walker’s ruling. They asked the judge to set aside the April 26 deadline during the appeal but Walker refused and sharply criticized the state.

John Tupps, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, called Walker’s actions “reckless” and said that’s why state officials were asking the appeals court to act.

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