[EL] Fwd: VOTER GROUPS CALL FOR ELECTION REFORM

Tue Nov 13 10:54:52 PST 2012

Michael Herron and Dan Smith will be surprised to learn that the league 
has made them move schools.
Rick
On 11/13/12 10:49 AM, David A. Holtzman wrote:
> FYI, re our "national embarrassment."
>
> --
> Sent from a mobile device.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> *From:* League of Women Voters of Florida <lwvfcomm at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:lwvfcomm at gmail.com>>
>> *Date:* November 13, 2012 8:05:30 PST
>> *To:* prez at lwvlosangeles.org <mailto:prez at lwvlosangeles.org>
>> *Subject:* *VOTER GROUPS CALL FOR ELECTION REFORM*
>> *Reply-To:* lwvfcomm at gmail.com <mailto:lwvfcomm at gmail.com>
>>
>> Having trouble viewing this email? www.TheFloridaVoter.org 
>> <http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=jhigmrdab&v=001EgdY2fhRL-UZR2rTN99M-vgqoGOjnu_EUPZhjKSJagmx7f9nXMuRSrNSOIAeYcDvRmVoppdIO_ZCHnfURrIyeHHp3GgA1rClyxR9VRWRtJvTtriGCeGVpA%3D%3D> 
>>
>>
>> LWVF logo NEW
>>
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>> November 13, 2012
>>
>> 	
>>
>> Contact:
>>
>> *Deirdre Macnab*
>>
>> 407-415-4559
>>
>> League of Women Voters of Florida
>>
>> floridaleague at earthlink.net <mailto:floridaleague at earthlink.net>
>> *Maribel Balbin
>> *305-588-2594
>> Miami Dade League of Women Voters
>> info at lwvmiamidade.org <mailto:info at lwvmiamidade.org>
>>
>>
>> *VOTER PROTECTION GROUPS CALL FOR*
>>
>> *ELECTION REFORM TASK FORCE*
>>
>>
>> Tallahassee, FL--In response to Florida's general election disaster, 
>> a coalition of voter-protection organizations today called urgently 
>> for creation of an election reform task force.
>>
>> Gathering at press conferences held simultaneously in Miami and 
>> Orlando were representatives of the League of Women Voters of 
>> Florida, AARP, National Congress of Black Women, Labor Council for 
>> Latin American Advancement, Florida Institute for Reform and 
>> Education, Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Lawyers 
>> Committee For Civic Rights Under Law, SantLa Haitian Neighborhood 
>> Center, South Florida Jobs with Justice, Florida Votes Count, 
>> Equality Florida and the Hispanic Coalition.
>>
>> Outlining the many problems voters experienced during early voting 
>> and on Election Day, League of Women Voters of Florida President 
>> Deirdre Macnab said, "A week ago today, Florida voters saw the 
>> culmination of a general election process that can be summarized in 
>> one word: Unacceptable."
>>
>> The group called today for immediate and joint action by the 
>> Legislature and the governor: "We are formally calling on the 
>> governor and the Legislature to follow the example of 2000 and 
>> appoint a multi-partisan task force chaired by trusted leaders." The 
>> group recommended appointing a cross-section of knowledgeable 
>> stakeholders with expertise in elections, supported by adequate 
>> budget and staff, to develop a blueprint for successful election reform.
>>
>> Speaking with one voice, the group urged: "We must finally put 
>> Florida's shameful election disasters behind us. We ask that this 
>> task force begin its work quickly and deliver its final 
>> recommendations to the 2013 Legislature at least two weeks before the 
>> 2013 session begins, allowing time for bills to be filed."
>>
>> The groups cited a litany of problems:
>>
>>   * Cuts in early voting days and lack of standardization in
>>     early-voting hours across Florida's 67 counties
>>
>>   * Insufficient election budgets, facilities and equipment
>>     throughout the state
>>
>>   * Expanded use of provisional ballots and ill-conceived voter purges
>>
>>   * A record-length ballot overloaded with complex, confusing amendments
>>
>>   * Lines requiring waits of up to 6 or 7 hours, inconveniencing many
>>     and excluding many others, including the elderly, disabled
>>     citizens, and voters who didn't have the time or stamina to wait
>>     in hours-long lines
>>
>>   * The four-day delay in knowing the results.
>>
>> Cathy Kerns, representing the AARP said, "Voting is one of our most 
>> important rights. Florida's elected officials have a responsibility 
>> to act to lighten the burdens and lower the barriers that many voters 
>> encountered on Election Day 2012. Those barriers were especially high 
>> for older voters. Lowering those barriers is important for all, 
>> regardless of age or ability."
>>
>> According to up-to-the minute research, the burden on minority voters 
>> was disproportionate. University of Florida Professor Michael C. 
>> Herron and Dartmouth College Professor Daniel A. Smith looked at the 
>> racial/ethnic and partisan composition of early voters in Florida, 
>> along with details about voters who were forced to wait in line on 
>> Saturday night in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, and who ended 
>> up casting their ballots after midnight. They found that that 
>> minority voters, and in particular black voters, suffered 
>> disproportionately from this year's unfair practices and that 
>> minority voting was suppressed.
>>
>> Victor Sanchez from the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, 
>> said, "Latino voters in the State of Florida deeply cherish the right 
>> to vote. When faced with unparalleled voter suppression efforts, we 
>> have chosen to respond by condemning efforts to place obstacles and 
>> impede free and fair elections."
>>
>> Voter activist LaVon W. Bracy added, "The entire nation is again 
>> looking at the State of Florida. The voting process from October 27 - 
>> November 6 was embarrassing and unacceptable. What Governor Scott and 
>> the Florida Legislature did under the guise of protecting the vote is 
>> immoral. The total disregard for democracy must be challenged and 
>> changed."
>>
>> Maribel Balbin, president of the Miami Dade League of Women Voters, 
>> added, "It is clear that Florida's 2012 election process was shameful 
>> and unacceptable. Miami Dade was one of the worst, with some of the 
>> longest lines and most lengthy delays in counting ballots."
>>
>> League President Macnab said, "The state simply can't afford to be in 
>> the national spotlight once again--as a punch line for late-night 
>> comedy--as this could have a profound and damaging impact on our 
>> ability to compete for jobs and new businesses moving to Florida."
>>
>> After the election fiasco in 2000, a bipartisan task force similar to 
>> the group's proposal was assembled by then-Governor Jeb Bush, with 
>> almost all of its recommendations implemented under Governors Bush 
>> and Charlie Crist.
>>
>> All this changed in 2011 after the Legislature passed HB 1355, which 
>> reduced early voting hours and instituted the other provisions that 
>> led to this year's problems.
>>
>> Macnab stressed that immediate attention is necessary: "We must move 
>> forward together to put Florida's election disasters behind us."
>>
>> ###
>>
>> //
>>
>> /The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political 
>> organization, encourages informed and active participation in 
>> government, works to increase understanding of major public policy 
>> issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. 
>> For more information, please visit the League's website at: 
>> www.TheFloridaVoter.org. 
>> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001YXcGP7kC8-C1--1RiH-YO6wJ2FSUpBhri605uT2I9qdHDZryhH2Qypu3J_1dhpEsaCakR-CcAYXOpn1To5RT22-PRfVOHH1ECFz-BUVrTuoTxe4Q-DHfmQ==>/
>>
>>
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-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
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949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
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http://electionlawblog.org
Now available: The Voting Wars: http://amzn.to/y22ZTv

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