voterprotectioneFFortscontinueaFter2022election
Diversity , equity & Inclusion Committee
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strict Id requirements , eliminating same-day registration , and limiting early voting , mail voting , and access to ballot drop boxes .
Florida Senate Bill 90 , passed and signed into law in 2021 , restricts ballot drop-off assistance , hours and locations of drop boxes , certain activities of voter registration organizations , and “ line warming ” activities , such as providing water to voters . Several organizations sued to block the law , arguing it would make voting harder , especially for minority voters and voters with disabilities . They won a temporary victory when the U . S . district Court for the Northern district of Florida struck down central provisions of the law , finding it was passed with the intent to discriminate against Black voters , and imposed a 10-year preclearance requirement under Section 3 of the VRA . 8 The Eleventh Circuit stayed enforcement of the district Court ’ s ruling pending appeal , however , allowing the law to go into effect for the 2022 election cycle . 9 While the effect of SB90 on voter turnout in the 2022 election is not yet clear , the resolve of groups fighting to protect Floridians ’ voting rights is . In a statement issued after the Eleventh Circuit ’ s ruling , the President of the League of Women Voters of Florida , Cecile Scoon , confirmed this resolve . “ While the League of Women Voters of Florida and our partners in this case are disappointed that a stay has been granted , our fight is not over . It is more crucial than ever that we continue our charge to protect voting rights and ensure everyone , regardless of race , party , age or disabilities , is represented in our democracy .” n
1
The 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote in 1870 ; however , women were not able to vote until passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 .
2
Milestone documents , Voting Rights Act ( 1965 ) https :// www . archives . gov / milestone-documents / voting-rights-act ( November 14 , 2022 ).
3
Id .
4
Steve Bousquet , Supreme Court
Voting Rights Act ruling affects five Florida counties , including Hillsborough , Tampa Bay Times , June 25 , 2013 , available at https :// www . tampabay . com / news / politics / national / supremecourt-strikes-down-key-part-of-votingrights-act / 2128423 /.
5
See South Carolina v . Katzenbach , 383 U . S . 301 , 327-28 ( 1966 ); Allen v . State Board of Elections , 393 U . S . 544 ( 1969 ). 6
Milestone documents , Voting Rights Act ( 1965 ) https :// www . archives . gov / milestone-documents / votingrights-act ( November 14 , 2022 ).
7
See Shelby County v . Holder , 570 U . S . 529 ( 2013 ).
8
See League of Women Voters of Fla ., Inc . v . Lee , 4:21CV186-MW / MAF , 2022 WL 969538 , at * 108-110 , ( N . d . Fla . Mar . 31 , 2022 )
9
League of Women Voters of Fla ., Inc . v . Fla . Sec . of State , 32 F . 4th 1363 , 1375 ( 11th Cir . 2022 ).
Author : Katari Buck – Asiatico Law , LLC
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