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Lawmakers: Give unaffiliated voters a voice
A bipartisan group of legislators wants to change state election law to make Florida an open primary state for presidential elections. Florida is in the minority of states that allow only Republicans and Democrats to nominate candidates for the White House, but lawmakers say that's an arcane system that disenfranchises the 1.9-million voters in the state who are not affiliated with either party.
The bills (HB 1189 and SB 2726) have not been scheduled for hearings in either house. Sponsors are Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, and Common Cause and League of Women Voters are lobbying for the legislation.
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