Trump votes early in Florida after felony conviction but could face disenfranchisement

Former President Donald Trump cast an early voting ballot in Florida on Wednesday, his first as a convicted felon. However, his right to vote could be curbed depending on sentencing in New York and the outcomes of his two other court cases.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his Manhattan hush money trial in May, with his sentencing set for September. Despite becoming the first former president to be criminally convicted, Trump can still run for president in 2024 and vote in the election.

The former president cast his ballot in Palm Beach during Florida’s early voting period ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections for the House and Senate. Trump told reporters after he cast his ballot that it was an “honor” to vote and spoke about his upcoming rallies and campaign stops in the United States.

“We have a level of enthusiasm that nobody’s seen before. They want to make America great again,” Trump said in reference to crowd sizes at his rallies and his supporters. “That’s what’s happening. We’re going to make it great again. Right now, we’re in a failing nation.”

Early voting in Florida began on Aug. 10 and lasts until Aug. 17. The primary elections are set for Aug. 20.

Trump has repeatedly questioned the 2020 election outcome. He argued that mail-in ballots and early voting were not reliable and contributed to widespread voter fraud, which recounts and audits of the results have debunked.

At a campaign rally in Atlanta, he expressed he would push for day-of voting.

“I will secure our elections. Our goal will be one-day voting with paper ballots, proof of citizenship, and voter ID,” Trump said, echoing similar statements at other events.

How can Trump vote?

The former president is a Florida resident, and the state’s strict felony disenfranchisement law prohibits nearly one million people from voting. However, Florida law treats those who were convicted in a different state differently than those convicted within the Sunshine State’s borders.

Under Florida law, a person convicted in another state can still vote in Florida as long as they are still allowed to vote in the state in which they were convicted. So, as New York allows everyone not serving a prison sentence to vote, Trump can vote in Florida despite legally being a felon.

If Trump were to receive a prison sentence for his New York hush money case, he would lose the right to vote unless his voting rights were restored. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said, following Trump’s New York conviction, the state’s clemency board would step in to restore the former president’s voting rights. The board is made up of Santis and three members of his Cabinet.

In Trump’s other cases, chances of disenfranchisement vary. If he were found guilty of another felony in Washington, D.C., for his effort to overturn the 2020 election, his voting eligibility would remain unaffected, as the district allows felons to vote.

A felony conviction in Georgia, however, would likely disenfranchise the former president, as people convicted of a felony cannot vote in the Peachtree State during periods of incarceration, probation, parole, and unless they’ve paid all fines for the felony in full. Trump would not be able to vote in Florida, then, unless Georgia’s governor pardoned him or Florida’s clemency board restored his voting rights.

Trump’s fourth criminal case, centering on his handling of classified documents, was thrown out of a Florida federal court in July.