“Florida’s New Voting Restrictions” Tanner R.

Republicans in the Florida Legislature passed a bill that is set to usher in a host of voting restrictions. Florida is one of the most critical battleground states in the country. This means that the passing of this bill is ten times more important than it would be for another, less competitive state. 

The new bill limits the use of drop boxes; adds more identification requirements for those requesting absentee ballots; requires voters to request an absentee ballot for each election, rather than receive them automatically through an absentee voting list; limits who could collect and drop off ballots; and further empowers partisan observers during the ballot-counting process. The legislation would also expand a current rule that prohibits outside groups from providing items “with the intent to influence” voters within a 150-foot radius of a polling location. Democratic state Rep. Michele Rayner spoke on the new bill saying that, “ We’re actively trying to suppress people’s right to vote. Instead of literacy tests and poll taxes, we are attempting to require voters to renew their standard request for a vote-by-mail ballot every calendar year.” However Republicans in the state hold a different view saying that the bill would provide “guardrails” to prevent anyone from “gaming the system” in the future. State Rep. Wyman Duggan stated that, “This is an incremental legislative approach to address these issues,– we are now focusing on making sure that every vote is a valid vote.” What do you think of this bill? Do you think that these restrictions are necessary?

Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/us/politics/florida-voting-rights-bill.html 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/28/politics/florida-voting-bill-passes-state-house/index.html