With Florida’s Oct. 5 voter-registration deadline looming, convicted felons and their advocates are scrambling to clear up outstanding court-related debts or take advantage of special programs so that people who have served their time behind bars can cast ballots in this year’s presidential election.

The race against the clock intensified after an Atlanta-based appeals court this month upheld a controversial Florida law requiring felons to pay “legal financial obligations” — fees, fines, costs and restitution — associated with their convictions before they can be eligible to vote.