League of Women Voters of Florida Sues to Stop Voter Suppression Bill

The League of Women Voters of Florida, Black Voters Matter and the Florida Alliance For Retired Americans filed a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 90 just minutes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the controversial new voting restrictions into law. The organizations were joined by several individual voters in their legal challenge of what they describe as “Florida’s voter suppression bill.”

Gov. DeSantis signed the legislation in an exclusive Fox News appearance from Florida, at an event that was closed to local reporters. While speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Florida’s governor reiterated that he believes the law is necessary to beef up enforcement of voter ID rules, ban ballot harvesting and prohibit the mass-mailing of ballots.

The new law restricts drop box use to a county’s early voting hours. People will no longer be allowed to drop off ballots 24/7. It also states that somebody has to be standing there in-person to monitor each drop box location. Under the new law, voters who wish to vote by mail must submit their requests each election cycle instead of every two cycles. The legislation also expands the no-solicitation zone around polling places to 150 feet. In other words, nobody within that distance can try to solicit votes or distribute items like water.

“The League of Women Voters of Florida has fought SB 90 since its introduction, and we’re continuing our fight now,” Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, wrote in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The legislation has a deliberate and disproportionate impact on elderly voters, voters with disabilities, students and communities of color. It’s a despicable attempt by a one-party-ruled legislature to choose who can vote in our state and who cannot. It’s undemocratic, unconstitutional, and un-American.” Click here to read the full piece from WCTV – Tallahassee.