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Florida State Legislature Limits Voting, Approving Restrictions on Vote-by-Mail and Drop-off Boxes
The Florida legislature has approved a measure that significantly limits voter access
The law extends the current deadline for voter registration from 48 hours to 14 days. This is very good.
Former Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law several years ago that levied fines for anyone who turned in their voter registration and it arrived at the Supervisor of Elections later than 48 hours after the voter filled out the application. Thankfully, assuming Governor DeSantis signs the bill into law, that deadline will be raised to a much more reasonable 14 days instead of 48 hours.
The fine is $50 for individuals and $250 for organizations, such as local political groups and voter registration organizations.
Florida currently has voter drop boxes available 24 hours per day. But if this law passes, an elections official will need to staff each dropbox. This will also limit the time that we’ll be able to drop off our ballots.
Food and drink will not be able to be passed out within 150 feet of a voting place. I have no idea how this intends to improve the quality of the election aside from making us hungry, thirsty…
