Court Blocks Part of Florida Voting Law

06/01/12

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, Tallahassee, granted a preliminary injunction blocking parts of Florida's new voting law. Specifically blocked provisions include one that required groups conducting voter registrations to submit collected forms within 48 hours of collection or face a $1000 a-day penalty.


Another requirement that has been specifically blocked requires that voter registration groups must notify the government within 10 days of any volunteer or employee stopping work for the organization. Other parts of the law stipulating new restrictions on groups conducting voter registration drives have also been blocked for now.

The voter registration groups see the penalty-imposing measures as draconian, and The League of Women Voters in Florida has been forced to stop its registration drives for the first time in 72 years, out of fear.

The judge said in his ruling that under federal law, organizations have the right to collect voter registration forms and mail them in. However the “harsh and impractical 48-hour deadline” made mailing impossible and unreliable.

The judge wrote, “When a plaintiff loses an opportunity to register a voter, the opportunity is gone forever … And allowing responsible organizations to conduct voter-registration drives —thus making it easier for citizens to register and vote - promotes democracy.”

The Obama re-election campaign praised the Hinkle's ruling moving away from the President's declared disgust at judicial activism. Though, when it comes to ObamaCare the President does not like “selected” people having a say over those who are “elected,” this particular piece of judicial activism seems welcome with the Democrats.

Eric Jotkoff, Obama's Florida Campaign spokesman said “Voting should be easy and accessible, and we're working to get as many Americans involved as possible.”

Voting rights groups joining the lawsuit hold that the state's previous election law for voter registration drives works well enough, and the judge said that the state had failed to produce any evidence to the contrary.

Deirdre Macnab, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida said, “We are hopeful that this ruling will enable us to continue this important work. Florida's anti-voter law creates impassable roadblocks for our volunteers, who are simply trying to bring fellow citizens into our democratic process.”

Governor Rick Scott said that he was happy that the judge let some of the law's provisions remain untouched. He said, “Our democracy relies on ensuring only valid, legal votes are counted, and that starts with having a voter registration process that safeguards the ballots of Florida citizens.”