Voting Rights

Common Cause Florida, the League of Women Voters of Florida and 11 other groups today urged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to veto SB 1794, a bill that would make it harder for citizens to propose amendment to the state constitution. “Our government is supposed to be ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ and yet our Legislature is making it harder for the people to have their voices heard,” said Anjenys Gonzalez-Eilert, Executive Director of Common Cause Florida.

Floridians expect and deserve to know that state and federal officials are taking proper precautions to safeguard the integrity of election systems. As a perennial election battleground state, we know that we are and will remain a target. New revelations that not one, but two Florida county election systems were breached by Russian hackers during the 2016 election cycle raise serious concerns that must be addressed by state officials and the U.S. Congress.

As Hurricane Michael barreled toward Florida’s panhandle region and voters were experiencing intermittent problems with the state’s online voting registration, Common Cause Florida, New Florida Majority Education Fund and Mi Familia Vota Education Fund were plaintiffs in a complaint for emergency injunctive and declaratory relief.

With only 3 weeks remaining in the regular Florida legislative session, both houses seem likely to pass online voter registration, although Governor Scott announced his opposition. An ethics bill is also moving forward. Common Cause joins a coalition opposing a broad public records exemption to content produced by body cameras worn by law enforcement officers.

Florida Capitol Report for February 20, 2015, including news on bills relating to on line voter registration, restoration of voting rights, utility regulation, nuclear cost recovery and campaign finance.

Florida Capitol Report for February 16, 2015, including news on bills relating to on line voter registration, restoration of voting rights, utility regulation, nuclear cost recovery and campaign finance.