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League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote Return to Florida


June 6, 2012 | WMFE - The League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote came to Orlando Wednesday to announce they are registering Floridians to vote again, after a year of putting their efforts on hold. The groups are back in action after a judge struck down key portions of Florida's year-old election law governing third-party voter registration.

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[Image: Deirdre Macnab, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida, center, and Heather Smith, President of Rock the Vote, second from right, stand with volunteers from both organizations in Orlando Wednesday]

Among other new restrictions, the election law required that all third-party groups turn in new voter registrations to state officials within 48 hours, or face heavy fines. The law was challenged in court by third-party voter registration groups including the League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote.

Last week, Federal District Court Judge Robert Hinkle struck down parts of the legislation, calling the 48-hour requirement “a virtually impossible burden.”

At a news conference Wednesday, League of Women Voters of Florida President Deirdre Macnab officially announced the return of the groups.

“We are delighted and we are relieved to end our suspension of voter registration following Federal Court Judge Hinkle’s ruling to strike down key parts of an unreasonable and an unworkable law, in his words, infringing on our constitutional rights,” Macnab said.

National Rock the Vote President Heather Smith said lawmakers should take note.

“It is our intention here today in Florida, and hopefully with this lawsuit, to make a very clear statement to other states around this country: that if you try to replicate this third-party voter registration language, we will fight back and we will win,” said Smith. “It is unconstitutional to make it harder for voters to register and cast a ballot.”

Smith said Rock the Vote and the League of Women Voters plan to work hard to make up for lost time.

 

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