The League of Women Voters of Florida and Rock the Vote announced Wednesday they plan on resuming voter registration in Florida.
The groups’ announcement comes in the wake of a Federal judge’s decision last week which blocked certain sections of Florida’s new voting law, HB 1355, that established onerous requirements on third party voter registration groups.
Judge Robert Hinkle found several sections to be burdensome and likely unconstitutional, including the 48-hour deadline for return of completed forms.
Although HB 1355 was widely viewed by many, including the non-partisian Brennan Center for Justice in New York, to negatively impact a wide range of voters, the Republican-led legislature passed the bill which was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in May 2011. Shortly after, the League and other civic groups suspended voter registration and filed suit.
“Failure was never an option in this battle against voter suppression,” said LWVF President Deirdre Macnab. “Now it’s time for our volunteers to work overtime to make up for lost ground. Our goal? To make sure every eligible Floridian has the opportunity to have their voice heard and their vote counted.”
President of Rock the Vote, Heather Smith said, Florida is an important youth vote state and with the judge’s decision, the group can now “get back to the work of encouraging a new generation of engaged voters and future leaders.”
Today, Lee Rowland of the Brennan Center for Justice, one of the attorneys who argued the Florida case said, they are “extremely pleased” with the court’s initial ruling.
“As Judge Hinkle recognized, when organizations like LWVF and RTV conduct voter registration drives they are engaging in constitutionally protected activity that promotes democracy,” Rowland said. “We are extremely pleased that the court’s initial ruling allows our clients to restart those efforts.”
