Democratic-allied groups call for Scott to veto elections bill
by John Kennedy | May 11th, 2011Add elections advocates Wednesday to a growing roster of organizations urging Republican Gov. Rick Scott to wield his veto pen.
Environmentalists have already weighed-in, asking the first-year governor to turn back four bills affecting water management districts, conservation rules, wetland regulation and growth management.
Now, several voter groups are demanding that Scott veto the legislation (CS/HB 1355) pushed by ruling Republicans over Democratic objections. Republican lawmakers said the tougher standards the measure would set on those seeking to cast ballots in precincts where they are not registered, and organizations that register voters, is designed to stamp out fraud.
Democrats and their allies said the measure is aimed at diminishing Democratic turnout.
Those calling for a Scott veto include groups not normally among the first the governor turns to for counsel: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSMCE), the American Civil Liberties Union, Progress Florida, and the Florida AFL-CIO.
“These provisions needlessly infringe the voting rights of Floridians, particularly those among historically disenfranchised communities, including elderly, low-income voters, students and voters of color,” the group’s letter said. “Instead of fixing real problems—such as expanding access to early voting —they would disenfranchise eligible Floridians, for no legitimate reason.”
Tags: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, elections, environmentalists, Progress Florida
May 11th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Good luck with “demanding” Governor Scott take the liberal side. I’m sure he’s getting a good laugh with this one.
May 11th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Could someone explain why early voting was so bad? Try working two jobs that require you to be open to working seven days a week such as retail, food sevice, medical. I am imagining the reining champs no nothing of this kind of life.
May 11th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
OH please all the crying about early voting is comical. We have had early voting for decades, its called an absentee ballot. If you work two jobs call and get an absentee ballot.
May 12th, 2011 at 1:45 am
Rick Scott has a mob associate in his leadership coalition. Meet Joe Ardolina of American Truck Sales. He’s a former vice president in the now defunct H&W Refuse Service whose president was Anthony Carione, fingered by law enforcement along with his brother Frank Carione, as then active figures in the underworld. Another brother, Joseph Carione, plead guilty to defrauding the government as a co-defendant in a case that involved Colombo crime boss Andrew Russo. bit.ly/edERUe
May 12th, 2011 at 6:36 am
There is no way to ensure that an absentee ballot will be counted. They only count them if the election is too close to call. I want MY vote to count regardless of the outcome. The Republicans for years have been blocking the voters. Look what happened that the idiot in chief Bush got “elected” in Florida. What a scam and Jeb was in on it.
May 12th, 2011 at 6:58 am
Why are they even asking, this is the same guy that is trying to destroy the unions? What are they thinking? Have they seen this budget & do they realize this guy hates democrats. We need to have huge demonstrations, not a trivial a letter. We need to go to the capital in mass and demand he veto this, but we democrats are too unorganized, broke, & spineless to do anything meaningful.
May 12th, 2011 at 8:05 am
Dinah (and others),
Absentee ballots are ALWAYS counted in Florida! The idea that they are somehow held back unless the election is close is a horrible old-wives tale and is definitely not true. Voting by absentee ballot counts the same as if you voted at the polls. Please stop telling people otherwise.
May 12th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Still have to decide if Al Capone was a good citizen compared to Rick Scott and the republican legislators who crafted this to make sure they stay in office. Because after the things they did to the middle class this session, I bet there is a 90% chance they would not be back if all potential voters vote. I say let’s outsource them……….
May 12th, 2011 at 9:43 am
What we’re going to have is an expensive court battle, just like last time. Why the legislature keeps lawyers in business with dumb stuff like this is beyond me.
May 13th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Why is everyone so exited about this? The truth is the the real majority of the population dosen’t bother to show up an vote for a bunch of special intrest prostitutes.