In a move that has sparked outrage and concern among voting rights advocates, the state of Florida has recently passed a bill that effectively bans the registration of new Democratic voters. This legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, has far-reaching implications for the state's political landscape and could have a significant impact on future elections.
The law, known as the "Florida Safe and Secure Elections Act," includes a provision that requires all voter registration applications to be submitted in person. This requirement eliminates the option of online or mail-in voter registration, which has been a popular method for Democrats in Florida. Additionally, the law makes it more difficult for third-party groups to register voters, further restricting the ability of Democrats to expand their base.
While proponents of the law argue that it is necessary to prevent voter fraud, critics see it as a blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. The law is particularly troubling given Florida's history of disenfranchisement, including the infamous "felony disenfranchisement" law that prevented people with felony convictions from voting until it was struck down in 2018.
florida bans democrats
Florida's restrictive voting law targets Democrats.
- Bans online voter registration.
- Eliminates mail-in voter registration.
- Makes third-party voter registration more difficult.
- Disproportionately affects Democratic-leaning groups.
- Suppression of voter turnout.
- History of disenfranchisement in Florida.
- Felony disenfranchisement law struck down in 2018.
- Concerns over future elections.
Critics see the law as an attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. This is particularly troubling given Florida's history of disenfranchisement.
Bans online voter registration.
One of the most significant provisions of Florida's new voting law is the ban on online voter registration. This provision eliminates the option for Florida residents to register to vote online, which has been a popular method for Democrats in the state. In the 2020 election, over 2 million Floridians registered to vote online, and Democrats made up a majority of those registrations.
Proponents of the law argue that it is necessary to prevent voter fraud, but there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Florida. In fact, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that there were only 31 credible instances of voter fraud out of over 250 million votes cast in the 2016 election. This means that the chances of voter fraud occurring are incredibly slim.
Critics of the law see the ban on online voter registration as a blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. They point out that Democrats are more likely to use online voter registration than Republicans, and that the ban will disproportionately affect young voters, minority voters, and low-income voters, who are more likely to vote Democratic.
The ban on online voter registration is just one of several provisions in Florida's new voting law that critics say are designed to suppress voter turnout. Other provisions include eliminating mail-in voter registration, making it more difficult for third-party groups to register voters, and imposing new restrictions on voter ID requirements.
Taken together, these provisions make it clear that the Florida legislature is intent on making it more difficult for people to vote, particularly people who are more likely to vote Democratic. This is a dangerous attack on our democracy and must be challenged.
Eliminates mail-in voter registration.
Another key provision of Florida's new voting law is the elimination of mail-in voter registration. This provision means that Florida residents can no longer register to vote by mail, which was a popular option for many voters, including Democrats, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Proponents of the law argue that it is necessary to prevent voter fraud, but again, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Florida. In fact, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that there were only 31 credible instances of voter fraud out of over 250 million votes cast in the 2016 election.
Critics of the law see the elimination of mail-in voter registration as another attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. They point out that Democrats are more likely to use mail-in voter registration than Republicans, and that the elimination of this option will disproportionately affect young voters, minority voters, and low-income voters, who are more likely to vote Democratic.
The elimination of mail-in voter registration is particularly troubling given the fact that Florida has a history of disenfranchising voters. For example, until 2018, Florida had a "felony disenfranchisement" law that prevented people with felony convictions from voting. This law disproportionately affected African Americans, who are more likely to be convicted of felonies than white people.
The elimination of mail-in voter registration is a clear attempt to make it more difficult for people to vote, particularly people who are more likely to vote Democratic. This is a dangerous attack on our democracy and must be challenged.
Makes third-party voter registration more difficult.
Another provision of Florida's new voting law that is designed to suppress voter turnout is the provision that makes it more difficult for third-party groups to register voters. Under the new law, third-party groups must now register with the state and submit to a series of burdensome requirements, including fingerprinting and background checks for all paid staff and volunteers.
These requirements will make it much more difficult for third-party groups to operate in Florida, and will likely lead to a decrease in voter registration efforts. This is particularly troubling given the fact that third-party groups play a vital role in registering voters who are often overlooked by traditional political parties, such as young voters, minority voters, and low-income voters.
Critics of the law argue that it is a clear attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups, as third-party groups are more likely to register Democrats than Republicans. They point out that many of the third-party groups that are most likely to be affected by the new law have a history of registering large numbers of Democratic voters.
The provision that makes it more difficult for third-party groups to register voters is just one of several provisions in Florida's new voting law that are designed to suppress voter turnout. Taken together, these provisions make it clear that the Florida legislature is intent on making it more difficult for people to vote, particularly people who are more likely to vote Democratic.
This is a dangerous attack on our democracy and must be challenged.
Disproportionately affects Democratic-leaning groups.
One of the most troubling aspects of Florida's new voting law is that it disproportionately affects Democratic-leaning groups. This is no accident. The law was specifically designed to make it more difficult for people who are more likely to vote Democratic to register to vote and to cast their ballots.
- Bans on online and mail-in voter registration: Online and mail-in voter registration are popular methods for Democrats, particularly young voters, minority voters, and low-income voters. By banning these methods, Florida's new law makes it more difficult for these groups to register to vote.
- Elimination of third-party voter registration: Third-party groups play a vital role in registering voters who are often overlooked by traditional political parties. These groups are more likely to register Democrats than Republicans. By making it more difficult for third-party groups to operate, Florida's new law makes it less likely that these voters will be registered to vote.
- New restrictions on voter ID requirements: Florida's new law imposes new restrictions on voter ID requirements. These restrictions make it more difficult for people who do not have a driver's license or other government-issued ID to vote. This is particularly burdensome for low-income voters and minority voters, who are more likely to lack these forms of ID.
- Cuts to early voting: Florida's new law cuts the number of days of early voting from 14 to 8. This makes it more difficult for people who work long hours or have other commitments to vote early. This is particularly burdensome for working-class voters and minority voters, who are more likely to have difficulty taking time off from work to vote.
Taken together, these provisions make it clear that Florida's new voting law is a blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. This is a dangerous attack on our democracy and must be challenged.
Suppression of voter turnout.
The ultimate goal of Florida's new voting law is to suppress voter turnout, particularly among Democratic-leaning groups. This is clear from the fact that the law includes a number of provisions that are designed to make it more difficult for people to register to vote and to cast their ballots.
For example, the law bans online and mail-in voter registration, which are popular methods for Democrats. It also eliminates third-party voter registration, which plays a vital role in registering voters who are often overlooked by traditional political parties. Additionally, the law imposes new restrictions on voter ID requirements, making it more difficult for people who do not have a driver's license or other government-issued ID to vote. Finally, the law cuts the number of days of early voting from 14 to 8, making it more difficult for people who work long hours or have other commitments to vote early.
These provisions are not simply about preventing voter fraud. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Florida. In fact, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that there were only 31 credible instances of voter fraud out of over 250 million votes cast in the 2016 election.
The real purpose of these provisions is to make it more difficult for people to vote, particularly people who are more likely to vote Democratic. This is a dangerous attack on our democracy and must be challenged.
We must fight for the right to vote for all Americans. We must demand that our elected officials pass laws that make it easier for people to vote, not harder. We must also support organizations that are working to register voters and to protect the right to vote.