Last Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, in conjunction with several others filed a lawsuit to block the implementation of new voting rules. The lawsuit calls for the law to be reviewed and examined by the U. S. Department of Justice.

The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include State Senate Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Arthenia Joyner, State Representative Janet Cruz, former Senator Helen Gordon Davis, Project Vote, (a national nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D. C.), and other registered voters in Collier and Monroe Counties. It was filed in Miami and seeks review by a panel of three judges.

The suit does not address the merits of the law or whether the changes in the law should be approved by the Department of Justice.

The federal suit was filed in the Southern District of Florida in Miami and seeks review by a three judge panel. The lawsuit seeks to block the implementation of the law in all 67 Florida Counties.[private]

This is not the first time that Senator Joyner has taken action to prevent the governor from implementing policy she felt was not in the best interest of the citizens.

In March, Senate Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Arthenia Joyner and Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) filed a petition with the Supreme Court in a legislative attempt to stop Governor Scott from rejecting federal funding for the High Speed Rail System.

Laughlin McDonald, Voting Rights Project Director of the ACLU said, “We believe the laws, rules and related cases are clear – Florida cannot implement the new law anywhere in the state until the Justice Department conducts a review or until the D. C. federal court approves the changes. That review is needed and until it happens, we’re asking the court to stop this law from moving forward.”

He further said, “Application of new election laws are contingent upon preclearance by the Justice Department, and the effective date of any such laws are delayed until such preclearance is obtained.”

Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida said, “This rushed law is a trifecta of voter suppression – making it harder for you to register to vote, harder to vote and harder to have your vote counted.

“This new massive law has nothing to do with improving elections and everything to do with who will get to vote in 2012 and we’re ready to have that conversation with the Department of Justice.”

Among the problem areas with the law that could raise concerns are a reduction in the days of early voting, ending a provision allowing a voter to change their address between counties on Election Day and vote by regular instead of provisional ballot.

The group also echoed concerns over new rules and fines which would limit the ability of third party groups to conduct independent efforts to register new voters.

Ms. Estelle Rogers, Director of Advocacy for Project Vote said, “As Project Vote well knows, voter registration drives have been indispensable in expanding the Florida electorate, particularly to low-income people and racial minorities.

“HB 1355, with its onerous rules and stiff penalties, makes it too risky for most groups — like civic organizations and church groups — to run a drive in Florida and thousands of eligible voters will be left out as a result.”

Ms. Rogers further stated, “It’s bad enough that Florida’s legislature passed this bill and the Governor signed it. Now they want to enforce it even before it can legally go into effect.”[/private]