Former Miami Heat Superstar LeBron James Donating $100K To Help Ex-Felons In Florida Pay Their Debts So They Can Vote

MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) -- Former Miami Heat superstar LeBron James might have taken his basketball skills to the West Coast, but he continues to have an eye on Florida.

His "More Than A Vote" initiative on Friday committed $100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to help ensure ex-felons are able to regain the right to vote.

"This is a fight about their constitutional right to vote being denied," James tweeted.

The money is expected to help felons pay court-ordered financial obligations that keep them from completing all the terms of their sentences after they are released from prison.

More than 65 percent of Florida voters in 2018 approved a constitutional amendment to restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences. But the issue has led to a major legal battle after the Legislature in 2019 passed a law that requires felons to pay fees, fines, restitution and court costs associated with their convictions to be eligible to vote.

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The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to hear arguments next month in a challenge to the 2019 law, with voting-rights groups likening the financial requirements to a "poll tax."

Orlando attorney John Morgan tweeted that he's willing to match James' effort to help felons pay the court-ordered obligations.

"LeBron, you put up $100K and I put up $100K," Morgan tweeted. "Let's challenge our friends to help. I challenge @BillClinton to help us. We pay the cheapest fines first. @KingJames, who are you going to challenge?!?"

Now a Los Angeles Laker, James spent four seasons with the Miami Heat, bringing two NBA championships to South Florida.

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