[EL] Fwd: VOTER GROUPS CALL FOR ELECTION REFORM
dasmith
dasmith at ufl.edu
Tue Nov 13 11:08:51 PST 2012
hi rick
i suspect some politicians and political operatives in tallahassee would
like to see me flee the state, but i have no such plans at this time
(despite how lovely NH is this time of year).
dan
daniel a. smith, ph.d.
professor & uf research foundation professor (2010-2012)
coordinator, political science internship program
department of political science
003 anderson hall | phone: 352-273-2346
po box 117325 | fax: 352-392-8127
university of florida | email: dasmith at ufl.edu
gainesville, fl 32611-7325 | www.clas.ufl.edu/users/dasmith/
http://twitter.com/#!/electionsmith
On 11/13/2012 1:54 PM, Rick Hasen wrote:
> 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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>>
>>
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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
> 949.824.3072 - office
> 949.824.0495 - fax
> rhasen at law.uci.edu
> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
> http://electionlawblog.org
> Now available: The Voting Wars:http://amzn.to/y22ZTv
>
>
>
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