Editor’s Note: Read an excellent OpEd on this topic by Carl Hiaasen, Miami Herald columnist, here.
On February 19th, Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson had issued the following joint statement on Governor DeSantis’ election integrity proposal: “We join the Governor in his efforts to continue to make Florida the national leader on election integrity, and we look forward to working with him on this important issue. Rather than resting on our laurels and congratulating one another on a successful 2020 election, our time is best spent preparing for 2022 and beyond. We don’t want to backslide. We are here to keep Florida a model for the rest of America.”
By Linda A. Richardson, Charlotte County Dems contributing writer
I am watching Representative Steube, Senator Scott, and Governor DeSantis give us fair notice that they want to restrict the votes of large blocks of the electorate. Now is the time for all of us to let them know that we know what they are doing and that we will not let it happen without punch back! Please contact them, talk to your friends and families and ask them to do the same. Below is the letter to the editor that I submitted to support free, fair and accessible voting in our elections. What are you doing?
After President Trump held Florida’s voting system up as a model for the US, Governor DeSantis wants to disenfranchise voters by making it harder to vote. A new annual request for mail in ballots hurts service people stationed abroad and for seniors who might forget to make the request in a timely manner. Eliminating drop boxes makes returning you ballot harder for all. The Supervisors of Elections also disagree with the annual request requirement. Read more here.
Call FL Representative Michael Grant at 941-613-0914, FL Senator Ben Albritton (District 26, eastern Charlotte County) at 850-487-5026 and FL Senator Joe Gruters (District 23, western Charlotte County) at 850-487-5023 to vote NO on laws ( including SB 90) that will suppress the votes of our soldiers, seniors and working parents.
Added to this, Representative Steube and Senator Scott are also attacking our access to voting. Representative Steube wants to block voter registration at the DMV so people who move have to go to the Supervisor of Elections in addition to the DMV to change their address on their driver’s license.
Why? To suppress the vote of working parents, seniors, and soldiers who are most impacted by these unnecessary burdens. Add this to the restrictions put in place to void the “Restore the Vote” Constitutional Amendment and the disenfranchisement and suppression is obvious.
Don’t let them take away our right to vote! Let our elected officials know that you support free, secure elections and that changes to suppress our ability to vote will not be tolerated. Support candidates who support access to the ballot box for all eligible voters. Democracy demands it!
