The League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote, and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund made their case to a federal judge Thursday, asking to stop Florida’s voter suppression law, HB 1355.
“If Thursday’s hearing was any indication, the state could have a rough time getting federal permission to enforce the new rules,” the Palm Beach Post reported today.
The new law imposes burdens on community-based voter registration drives, including a 48-hour deadline and excessive fines that go up to $1,000 for late submissions.
“In their complaint, the organizations, which say they have never been charged with voter fraud, claim they have been forced to severely curtail – or, in the case of the League of Women Voters, stop – registration of voters in Florida,” the Post reported. “The time frames in the law may not always be met, the organizations contend, and they and their volunteers could not afford to pay the penalties.”
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle focused on the 48-hour window that organizations are given to return or post-mark voter registration cards, or else face fines like at least two Florida high school civics teachers in the last several months.
“How would any prudent organization ever mail in a form that it collected at a voter registration drive under this statute?” he asked.
“Hinkle said he would try to rule on the case quickly. If he issues a preliminary injunction, the law would essentially be frozen unless a trial is held,” according to the Post.
“Our representative democracy relies on an engaged citizenry, yet voter turnout in Florida remains far too low,” said Brad Ashwell of the Florida Public Interest Research Education Fund in a press release. “That’s why we work to sign up thousands of first time voters across the state each election cycle. It’s unfortunate that rather than find ways to bring new voters into the fold, the Florida legislature is instead targeting groups that help attract new voters. This law will inevitably lead to fewer voters at the polls.”