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ACLU URGES LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO REVISE VOTER'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN ELECTION REFORM LEGISLATION
WARNS THAT POSTING OF LIST OF VOTER RESPONSIBILITIES MAY VIOLATE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT
April 27, 2001
In a letter to Governor Jeb Bush and the leadership of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, the ACLU's Florida Equal Voting Rights Project urged that the list of so-called voter responsibilities be eliminated from pending election reform legislation.
The list of voter responsibilities is contained in both House and Senate versions of election reform legislation.
The ACLU letter urges that the voter responsibilities language be struck from the pending legislation because several of the listed responsibilities have no basis in law and could have a chilling effect on new voters and those less familiar with the electoral system. The ACLU also urged that portions be redrafted as obligations of election officials, rather than responsibilities of voters.
The ACLU warned that the new list of responsibilities may not be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice which, under the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, must preclear all changes in voting procedures in five Florida counties that are covered jurisdictions under the Act.
The letter to the Governor and legislative leaders was sent by Florida ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon, ACLU Legislative Staff Counsel Larry Spalding and JoNel Newman, Project Co-Director for the Florida Equal Voting Rights Project and Staff Attorney for the Florida Justice Institute.
