I’m a bit behind in posting this – here is the order in the Miami-Dade early voting dispute, courtesy of the Miami Herald.  The court held the issue of cancelling early voting on the Sunday before election day was moot due to the signing of HB1355.

Headline in the St. Pete Times today: “Elections supervisors in key counties refuse to implement new law” – same article in the Miami Herald has the headline: “Without DOJ sign-off, elections chief balk at voting law.”

Here are some samples of the coverage of the HB1355 in local newspapers around the State, most appear to be running the AP story online, but some have independent coverage:

• Florida Times-Union/jacksonville.com
• Miami Herald editorial
• Miami-Herald story
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune
• Palm Beach Post
• St Pete Times editorial

I also found an opinion piece from the Secretary of State in the Gainesville Sun (though listed in the sports section for some reason) and the opposite view from the ACLU of Florida.

The Governor has signed HB1355 into law, it will become Chapter 2011-40, Laws of Florida, according to the Florida Senate website.

The Miami Herald has an update on the Miami-Dade early voting story…a hearing was held, but no order yet.

With a flurry of action yesterday, a new election law bill passed the House and Senate yesterday and is on its way to the Governor.  I’ll spend more time going over it if the Governor signs it, but what jumped out immediately to me was this new section:  97.0115  Preemption.-All matters set forth in chapters 97-105 are preempted to the state, except as otherwise specifically authorized by state or federal law. The conduct of municipal elections shall be governed by s. 100.3605.

On a personal note, I am saddened to learn of the passing of a friend, Phyllis Busansky, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.