Florida House Votes to Cut Early Voting Period

BRADENTON – House Bill 1355, which among other things shortens the early voting period, passed this week mostly along party lines. If made law, early voting would be reduced from 14 days to 8. The bill would also add several restrictions that would most likely increase the number of voters casting ”provisional“ ballots dramatically.

Voters would no longer be able to change their address or name at the polls. Under the bill, they can only change their registration at the polls if moving within the same county. Otherwise they would have to cast a provisional ballot.

The bill would also require third-party voter registration groups to turn in registration cards within 48 hours of them being signed, seen by such groups as a significant impediment to increasing voter turnout.

Locally, Representatives Boyd (R-68), Steube (R-67) and Pilon (R-69) all voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Darryl Rouson (D-55) opposed it. Click here to contact you local representative and tell them how you feel.

Democrats argued that it was a deliberate effort to disenfranchise poor voters who most needed early voting options and college students who most often change addresses at polls -- both groups that tend to vote Democrat. Republicans countered that the intent was to reduce voter fraud, though no significant problems were found by state and local election supervisors to support a need for such changes on that basis.