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Florida House Democrats Urge House to Investigate New State Voting Laws
House Democrats from Florida have sent a letter to House leaders requesting hearings on the new state voting laws. The recent bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott imposes new restrictions on groups that register voters, requires voters to cast provisional ballots if they move to another county, and shortens the validity of voter signatures on citizen initiatives from four years to two. Opponents say that the stricter laws will disproportionately affect college students, military personnel, and low-income people.
Florida Reps. Alcee hastings, Corrine Brown, Ted Deutch, Frederica Wilson, and Kathy Castor have joined 34 other U.S. Representatives signing the letter sent to the House Committee on the Judicary. The letter reads:
"Congress has the Constitutional authority to act to protect the rights of all voters. In the face of voter suppression laws being enacted across the nation, Congress must determine the extent of the problem and provide appropriate remedies. Despite years of progress, inequities and obstacles still remain. We must work together to strengthen our nation's democracy and ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected. Again, we respectfully request that Committees hold a hearing to address this extremely important matter."
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) also recently requested that the Senate conduct "investigative field hearings" to see if the new laws are "an orchestrated effort to disenfranchise voters" in a manner that may be illegal.
