I guess The Miami Herald takes time to catch on, to what is really important that is moving in the Florida legislature. In case you missed us, yesterday, click here. Eyeonmiami is the only source, as far as I am aware, that is peeling back the layers of conflict between the Crist camp and the Jeb Bush camp and the tension over changing demographics in Florida, that hard line conservatives refuse to accept. The Herald, on the other hand, reports important news as "Teens charged over sex tape", and on the Florida legislature page: "Education issues spotlighted", "Bill on red-light cameras clears Senate committee", "Panel OK's stimulus spending". Click 'read more' to see that The New York Times today agreed with our take of Florida news, thanks to Gary Fineout. Come on, Herald. Get with the program: report the dismal politics that originate in Miami-Dade and the reasons why!
April 16, 2009
Overhaul of Florida Voting Rules Is Proposed
By GARY FINEOUT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican lawmakers, who control both houses of the Legislature, have proposed sweeping changes to the state’s election laws, including new procedures on registering voters, and requiring voters to use a provisional ballot if they move shortly before an election.
The rules would also prevent anyone, including those with video or audio equipment, from getting within 100 feet of a line of voters, even if that line is outside a polling place. This would also prevent anyone from offering legal advice to voters in line.
State Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican from Miami and sponsor of the legislation, said the changes were a response to complaints and problems in the 2008 elections.
“We see where there were flaws, where there were holes that have to be filled,” Mr. Diaz de la Portilla said.
The legislation, for example, would bar election supervisors from placing anything on the envelope of absentee ballots that lists a voter’s party affiliation. It would also give state election officials the ability to call for a recount and set new standards for audits of voting machines.
Mr. Diaz de la Portilla said nothing in the legislation was intended to benefit “any particular political party.”
But voting rights groups were critical of the legislation, as were Democratic lawmakers.
“We should be making democracy more open, not putting obstacles in the way of people accessing their government,” said Senator Charlie Justice, a St. Petersburg Democrat.
Elizabeth Westfall, a senior lawyer with the Advancement Project, a voting rights group, predicted that the measure would shut down voter-registration drives in Florida by outside groups like the N.A.A.C.P. The legislation would require voter-registration groups to turn in applications within 48 hours after they are first filled out.
“This is really Draconian,” Ms. Westfall said.
She also criticized the provision that would require voters who move less than a month before an election to vote with a provisional ballot. She faulted the state for failing to make early voting easier.
Gov. Charlie Crist ordered polling places to stay open longer last year to accommodate throngs of voters who showed up for early voting.
Mr. Diaz de la Portilla defended the requirements for turning in voter applications promptly. He said it was important to make sure the state’s voting rolls were accurate.
“People hold onto things and don’t turn them in and don’t meet deadlines,” he said.
Ever since the chaotic recount in the 2000 presidential election, Florida has repeatedly come under fire by voting rights groups and labor organizations. Some of the proposed changes may have to be reviewed by the Department of Justice. Because of past voter-discrimination complaints, five counties in the state must have any changes to registration procedures cleared by the federal government.
Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
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6 comments:
Wasn't it the Herald where I read about the Cuban tourism and the effect that will have on our local tourism. Yet another drain on those so-called stadium dollars, but that connection was not discussed. I guess I better start saving for those extra tax dollars that will be coming our way when those tourism taxes run out.
That's not all that will run out, once Havana opens up to Miami investors.
Isn't this "scoop" really Gary Fineout's? I didn't think it was good blogging ediquette to: (1) re-post an entire article without even a link; and (2) claim the scoop on behalf of yourself in your headline.
Reading Gary's very good blog and cutting and pasting its contents is not really reporting, is it? Putting your own picture on the post is a nice touch as well.
Give some traffic to the guy actually doing the work:
http://findout.typepad.com/the_fine_print/
Gimleteye writes:
I gave Gary Fineout credit, yesterday and today, and the New York Times credit both. I will add links to our post. I certainly did not claim credit for the scoop: what Eyeonmiami did scoop was the Herald for local readers.
Congrats to all for raising awareness on this shameless voter suppression act. Anyone involved with voter's rights can tell you a major impediment to poor and minority voting -- under the present rules -- is the bizarre insistence on being in the right "precinct" even when the election is national in nature.
Decades of experience and data show that poorer people, and minorities, move far more frequently than wealthier whites. This is especially so with recent foreclosures, job losses etc.
Thus in the 2008 election we had many people who decided to bag it after waiting in line and learning they need to go to a different precinct and vote due to a recent move.
Alex's bill would make it even harder than it presently is.
It's an outrage.
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