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.
New lawsuit filed challenging HB1355 voter registration provisions
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). They allege violations of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. News stories on the suit are online at the Palm Beach Post, TBO, and the Miami Herald.
Federal hearing in Tampa on Florida’s voting laws – Jan. 27
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 and the St. Petersburg Times.
UPDATED: Suit filed over Florida’s political party change law
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 the person has not been a registered member of candidate for nomination for anyother political party for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify.”
Update: The Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court has added the pleadings in this case to its “High Profile Cases” section on its website.
HB1355 Precleared – in part
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. The pieces of the law that remain in limbo relate to: Section 4 – Relating to 3rd Party Voter Registration Organizations, Section 23 – Relating to Petition Signature Verification, Section 26 – Relating to Out-of-County Address Changes at the Polling Place, and Section 39 – Relating to Early Voting Hours.
Preclearance objections filed & litigation update
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 of Black State Legislators, and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP. Meanwhile, the Florida Independent has posted documents from the litigation filed by the ACLU against the State.
Updated summary on this year’s Election Law
I’ve updated my summary on HB1355, posted on the carltonfields.com website at: http://bit.ly/j1VJ0o.
Florida files preclearance request on HB 1355
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.
Litigation begins over new Florida election law
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 State’s Directive regarding the new law is also now online.
“Bifurcated voting system”
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.