Big Voting Rights Win In Florida

Voting rights activists got another victory, this time in Florida, where a federal judge said he would permanently remove harsh restrictions on third-party voter registration groups. Those restrictions, passed as part of a massive electoral overhaul and spearheaded by Gov. Rick Scott (R) had hamstrung non-partisan groups like the League of Women Voters from registering voters leading up to the November election.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle said he would grant a motion to permanently remove the restrictions as soon as he receives confirmation that a federal appellate court had dismissed the case.

In December the League of Women Voters of Florida, Rock the Vote, and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund sued to block the restrictions. The Department of Justice also opposed the restrictions and had filed their own lawsuit challenging them. “Florida’s anti-voter law created impassable roadblocks for our volunteers, who have been bringing fellow Floridians into our democratic process for over 72 years,” said Deirdre Macnab, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “Thanks to today’s ruling, we can finally put these roadblocks behind us and concentrate on getting Floridians registered to vote. We are grateful the court recognized that the Constitution does not tolerate these types of barriers to civic participation and voter registration.”

The non-partisan Brennan Center issued a press release applauding the decision.“This order is a decisive victory for Florida voters,” said Lee Rowland, counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, one of the attorneys who argued the case for the Plaintiffs. “The Florida legislature has tried repeatedly to stifle access to voter registration opportunities, and once again a federal court has stopped them in their tracks. We are thrilled that voter registration groups can now get back to what they do best — expanding our democracy.”

Rarely these days are the federal courts seen as a safe harbor for individuals aggrieved by state action, but recently in the context of voting rights, they have been. This is a big win for any citizen that believes elected officials should be forced to conduct their affairs in a fair and transparent fashion, especially when it comes to restricting essential civic rights like voting.

Florida Voting Restrictions May Be Intentionally Discriminatory

DOJ Tells Florida To Cease Voter Purger

Photo from JasonLagiene via flickr.

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Janet C.

11:06AM PDT on Sep 2, 2012

Great news!

Now, the next step is to change our present system of the electorial college to a far more accurate tally of individual citizen's voting choices by a one person-one vote system...then the final totals would determine the presidential choice of the "people", not some obscure electorial college numbers outcome.

September 2
send a green star

Martha E.

9:17PM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

GOOD. It has made me physically ill, the redistricting and voter suppression laws that have been passed in so many Republican governor states (mine -- TX -- included), because nothing is more important to our democracy than one man/one vote.

September 1
send a green star

Ken W.

6:10PM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

YES YES YES

JL A.

8:17AM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

Seems that the major suppression efforts in three key states have now been struck down --where besides PA are we awaiting court action? Seems like time for a status scoreboard...

Aroadtrip W.

3:28AM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

Great news.

Michael T.

8:55PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

Yeah I don't get cable HBO so I only get to see YouTube clips. It sounds like a great program and I am happy as heck it is playing now before the election as it will reach some more people who might have been on the fence and maybe even convert some conservatives too.

August 31
send a green star

Jenny S.

8:34PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

I've been meaning to watch Newsroom. I hear it's great- now I have some proof. Thanks!

Amy R.

7:46PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

Now PA, OH, MI....

pam w.

7:32PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

(I LOVE "Newsroom!") This is good news!

5:44PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

Jenny. Believe it or not the latest tv show on HBO called Newsroom had it as part of the news delivered on its news broadcast. I spent the time to write them down, put the video on hold, write some more down. etc. I personally added a bit to them also.

http://www.upworthy.com/everything-wrong-with-the-tea-party-in-less-than-two-minutes?c=upw1