Voting Rights

Today, a federal court denied the state of Florida’s motion for partial summary judgement in a challenge to the state’s racially discriminatory congressional voting map. The ruling by the three-judge panel in Common Cause Florida v. Byrd leaves the case on track to go to trial on September 26th in Tallahassee.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week in Moore v. Harper reinforced the role state courts and Florida’s constitution have in stopping unfair and discriminatory laws, election rules, and voting maps.

Common Cause Florida's Program Director Amy Keith wrote that recent election law cases are sending Florida further down a path of voter suppression.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed S.B. 7050, a massive piece of election-related legislation that places restrictions on community groups who register new voters and also creates an exemption to Florida’s long-standing “resign to run” laws.

The appeals court reversed a lower court decision, leaving in place measures that will restrict access to the ballot box.