May 16, 2022
The Honorable Wilton Simpson, President of the Florida Senate
President Simpson:
As you are aware, ensuring the safety and sanctity of our electoral process remains one of the most important roles in maintaining a vibrant democracy and upholding the Constitution which we have all sworn to uphold. Further, it is our duty to make certain that every registered voter has a fair and equal opportunity to cast a ballot in every election.
As such, and by way of this correspondence, we are formally requesting that the confirmation hearings of the new Secretary of State be held during the upcoming Special Session beginning on May 23, 2022. With statewide primary elections and vote-by-mail balloting coming up in a matter of weeks, it is imperative that the newly appointed Secretary go through the proper process to be confirmed by the full Senate body.
We believe, and hope you agree, that it would be highly inappropriate for the new Secretary to preside over an election without the opportunity to be questioned under oath and fully vetted before the public.
Fortunately, we will have the full body assembled and will have more than enough time within the week of Special Session to go through the confirmation process and do the right thing for the people we each serve.
We look forward to your affirmative response.
Sincerely,
Senator Lauren Book
Sen. Bobby Powell, Pro-Tempe
Sen. Loranne Ausley
Sen. Lori Berman
Sen. Randolph Bracy
Sen. Janet Cruz
Sen. Audrey Gibson
Sen. Shevrin Jones
Sen. Jason Pizzo
Sen. Tina Polsky
Sen. Darryl Rouson
Sen. Linda Stewart
Sen. Annette Taddeo
Sen. Victor Torres
cc: Senator Dennis Baxley, Chair of Ethics and Elections Committee
Senator Annette Taddeo, Vice-Chair
Senator Lori Berman, Committee Member Senator
Randolph Bracy, Committee Member Senator
Jennifer Bradley, Committee Member
Senator Doug Broxson, Committee Member
Senator George Gainer, Committee Member
Senator Ileana Garcia, Committee Member
Senator Tina Polsky, Committee Member
Dawn Roberts, Staff Director
