Hearing Friday in Challenge to Florida’s Illegal Dual Election System
Advisory: Hearing Friday in Challenge to Florida’s Illegal Dual Election System Non-uniform application of state’s 2011 “Voter Suppression Act” results in two sets of election laws in Florida.
CONTACT: ACLU of Florida Media Office, (786) 363-2737, media@aclufl.org
TALLAHASSEE – A hearing will be held tomorrow, August 10th, 2012 in the administrative challenge to the implementation of a dual election involving restrictive changes in election procedures adopted by the Florida legislature in 2011. The challenge was brought by The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, along with State Senator Arthenia Joyner, and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). The challenge claims that the State of Florida is operating an unlawful dual system of elections in violation of the state “Uniformity Statute.” Sixty-two Florida counties are enforcing restrictive 2011 changes to the Florida election code. However, the previous law still applies in the five counties that are “covered” under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) while the state awaits a federal court decision on whether the 2011 changes violate Section 5. Hearing on uniformity challenge Friday, August 10, 2012 1:00pm Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060
The petition was filed on June 29th, 2012, with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings and will be heard and decided by an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Division. Petitioners are represented by Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Brennan Center for Justice. The Washington D.C. office of the Bryan Cave Law firm and Mark Herron of Messer Caparello & Self of Tallahassee are also providing pro bono legal counsel in the case.
More information about the challenge is available here: http://bit.ly/M1xTc8
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