Why is Trump allowed to vote in Florida after felony conviction?

(The Hill) — Former President Trump cast his ballot in Florida on Election Day, despite his 34 felony convictions in New York. 

While Florida has some of the strictest laws in the country against people convicted of felonies voting, Trump's hush money conviction did not disqualify him from the voting booth.

If a Florida resident is convicted of a felony in another state, they lose their voter eligibility only if such a conviction would make them ineligible to vote in the state where they were convicted.

In Trump’s case, a New York state law passed in 2021 only restricts people imprisoned on their felony conviction from casting ballots. Their right to vote is restored upon release from incarceration, even if they are still on parole or have some form of postrelease supervision.

Trump has yet to be sentenced in New York, with Judge Juan Merchan in September pushing back sentencing until after the election. Trump cannot appeal his conviction until the sentencing decision is handed down.

In the Sunshine State, only those convicted of murder or sexual abuse permanently lose their right to vote.

However, those who are found guilty of other crimes can only return to the polls once they’ve paid any outstanding fines and completed their prison, probation or parole sentence without requesting clemency.

No U.S. president other than Trump has ever been convicted of a felony at any point in their lifetime.