The Florida Supreme Court has posted their docket for the 2012 Florida Senate Redistricting case. The Leon County Clerk of the Court has also posted documents from the challenges to the state’s redistricting process for congressional seats. As reported by the AP (via News-Press), hearings will be held this week on both topics.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, the Florida Public Interest Research Group, and Rock the Vote have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the State’s changes to the State’s voter registration process through HB1355. The section specifically challenged is Section 4 of the bill (Laws of Florida, 2011-40 – see page 9 of this PDF). ...
Following up on my story from last month, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Rights will hold a hearing on recent changes to Florida and other states’ voting laws in Tampa on January 27, 2012, according to a press release issued by Senator Bill Nelson. Here are reports from the Palm Beach Post...
The Palm Beach Post and Miami Herald are reporting that former state senator Nancy Argenziano has filed a lawsuit challenging as unconsitutional a portion of HB1355 that prevents a candidate from switching political parties less than 365 days before qualifying to run for office. Here is what HB1355 requires that candidates attest to: “That...
With the exception of the major pieces of the legislation that the Secretary of State asked a Federal court to review, the Department of State has announced that they have received Voting Rights Act preclearance by the U.S. Dept. of Justice of the remaining pieces of HB1355, making them effective within the entire state. ...
Numerous groups have reportedly filed objections with the Dept. of Justice regarding Florida’s request to preclear HB1355. The Bradenton Herald has a report on three public interest groups’ objections. Also online are objections from the ACLU Voting Rights Project and a letter from the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the Florida Conference...
I’ve updated my summary on HB1355, posted on the carltonfields.com website at: http://bit.ly/j1VJ0o.
The Florida Secretary of State has filed a preclearance submission pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act with the U.S. Department of Justice related to HB 1355 – you can read the cover letter, submission summary, and exhibit outlining the State’s summary of the new law here.
The ACLU of Florida has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida challenging implementation of HB1355 before preclearance is obtained. At the same time, the Brennan Center has asked the Secretary of State to hold off on implementing HB1355 for the same reason, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The Secretary of...
First newspaper editorial, courtesy of the St. Pete Times, that I’ve seen that mentions the “bifurcated voting system” that is apparently in place in Florida today.