Florida Election Law

The latest in Florida Election Law issues, cases, legislation, and news.

A personal blog of

Ken Tinkler.

  

  

 

Copyright 2016 Ken Tinkler

Court upholds Florida party switching time limit

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The Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald are reporting that a Leon County Circuit Judge has ruled against former Sen. Nancy Argenziano in her bid to have Florida’s 1 year restriction on changing political party affiliation deemed unconstitutional.  Leon County’s Clerk usually posts their high profile orders online, once it’s available I’ll add a link.  The news reports state that the court focused on the fact that Argenziano could have run for office as a member of Florida’s Independent Party (which she was a member of one year before the qualification date) or without party affiliation and that similar laws had been previously held to be valid.

Court Hearing on Florida Election Law Challenge (and Cat/Dog election issues)

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The litigation related to last year’s changes to Florida’s election laws continues, here are some status updates from Politico and from a website associated with the Plaintiffs in the case:  Brennan Center 

Many of the filings in the case are also available online at ther Mortiz College of Law site. 

And if you need a good laugh – make sure you check out the Washington Post’s coverage of Hank (the cat) for Senate and the SuperPAC that has formed to oppose him.

Tampa Election Law Hearing

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The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights conducted a field hearing in Tampa today on Florida’s 2011 election law changes.  The Subcommittee’s webpage has the printed witness testimony (links on the right side of the subcommittee page).   The Tampa Bay Times and Bay News 9 (video) provide local coverage.  Cooper Levey-Baker of The Florida Independent live-blogged the event.

Can Democrats vote on January 31st? It depends on where you live.

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Florida is a “Closed Primary” state, meaning only voters who are registered members of the political party holding a primary election can vote in that primary election.  Some cities, counties, and special districts, however, are also using the Presidential Preference Primary date to conduct other elections, such as referendums and other ballot measures.  For example, the City of Flagler Beach scheduled their municipal elections in conjunction with the January 31st primary and the City of Temple Terrace is holding a referendum on tax exemptions for economic development.  Check your local Supervisor of Elections website to see if you are eligible to vote on an issue on January 31st even if your political party is not holding a primary.

New lawsuit filed challenging HB1355 voter registration provisions

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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.

UPDATED: Suit filed over Florida’s political party change law

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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.