Trump slammed voting rights for felons in 2016. Now he may become one

Donald Trump has long called for convicted felons to be banned from voting in the US.

Now, hecould become one.

The former president is currently on trial charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to silence her about an alleged 2006 affair in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Mr Trump has denied that the affair took place and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The falsifying records charges on their own are classed as misdemeanors but have been raised to felonies because prosecutors allege they were carried out with the intent to commit or conceal another crime – in this case a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

Laws around felons voting vary considerably across the US.

In New York, where Mr Trump is on trial, convicted felon’s lose their voting rights during incarceration and are restored automatically upon completion of their prison sentence.

In Florida, where Mr Trump is registered to vote, the law states that a felon’s right to vote is governed by the law in the state in which they were convicted.

Based on this, it’s not only Mr Trump’s freedom – but also his right to vote – that’s currently on the line.

For years, Mr Trump has slammed the idea of convicted felons having the right to vote in US elections.

In August 2016, the then-presidential candidate Mr Trump slammed then-Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe for an order that restored some voting rights to convicted felons, claiming that he was attempting to help Mr Trump’s opponent former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary Clinton is banking on her friend Terry McAuliffe on getting thousands of violent felons to the voting booths in an effort to cancel out