Tampabay.com

NOVEMBER 09, 2011

Florida Democrats seek U.S. House investigation into voting laws

Florida Reps. Alcee Hastings, Corrine Brown, Ted Deutch, Frederica Wilson and Kathy Castor are seeking a House investigation into new voting laws they contend were designed to make it harder for some people (Democrats) to vote. It dovetails with an effort U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is making in his chamber.

"As you know, the right to vote is guaranteed by the Constitution and a cornerstone of our democracy. We should be making it easier for Americans to vote, not harder,"  reads a letter sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

"Over 30 states have enacted or attempted to enact laws that will create barriers to voting, among them: Florida’s HB 1355, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, limiting access to the polls for minorities, seniors, and college students, as well as limiting early voting days and imposing new restrictive regulations on voter registration groups; Alabama requiring proof of citizenship and government-issued photo identification in order to vote and Texas having similar voter ID requirements; Maine eliminating same-day registration; and Wisconsin requiring voters to show a government photo identification card at a polling state before they can vote."

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For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

E-mail Times political editor Adam Smith: asmith@tampabay.com

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