Florida has a longstanding history of racial discrimination in voting and beyond. The state has enacted several anti-voter laws over the last decade, and continues to reject attempts to construct a fair, inclusive, and transparent democracy in one of the nation’s largest and most diverse states..
Florida can make history by enacting the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Voting Rights Act of Florida (SB 1598 / HB 1419 , “FLVRA”), a State Voting Rights Act designed to strengthen democracy for everyone in the Sunshine state and remove numerous obstacles to the ballot box that eligible voters of color currently face, and that have burdened voting rights throughout the state’s troubled history. The FLVRA would be the first State Voting Rights Act in the Deep South federal.
The FLVRA builds on the foundations of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as successful State Voting Rights Acts enacted in New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, and Virginia. If enacted, the FLVRA would become one of the most comprehensive State Voting Rights Acts in the nation. This is especially critical as we’re seeing attacks, not progress at the federal level and courts have undercut the federal VRA’s core protections.
Black Floridians face severe racial discrimination in voting. Discriminatory laws and government decisions have led to persistent racial disparities in voter registration and voter turnout. Anti-voter laws have also created barriers to every step of the voting process, including restrictions on ballot drop boxes, restrictions on vote-by-mail, a ranked choice voting ban, restrictions on election funding, and harsh penalties on organizations conducting community voter registration. And returning citizens, who had their right to vote restored by Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution, are now left on their own to discern whether they have paid all outstanding financial obligations specified within a sentencing document before registering to vote.
Conditions that can foster voting discrimination — such as unfairly drawn districts that weaken the voting power of Black voters and other voters of color, inaccessible polling locations, insufficient language assistance for voters who don’t speak English comfortably, and outright voter intimidation — endure throughout Florida. And many of Florida’s counties and cities use at-large election structures or district maps that impair the ability of voters of color to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections.
Confronting vote dilution — which occurs in unfair districts that weaken or drown out Black and Brown voters’ voices — and addressing barriers that deny voting opportunities in a way that is efficient and cost effective for both voters and local governments within the state.
Launching a preclearance program administered by a new independent Florida Voting Rights Act Commission. This program will require local governments with records of discrimination to prove that certain voting changes won’t harm voters of color before they can go into effect.
Expanding language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency so every voter can participate effectively.
Implementing a central public repository for election and demographic data with the goal of fostering transparent, evidence-based practices in election administration.
Combatting voter intimidation, deception, and obstruction with new tools, such as empowering voters to seek relief directly in court, , which is more important than ever due to recent efforts to stoke fear, spread disinformation, and obstruct access to the ballot box among eligible voters and communities of color
Establishing a paid holiday for Election Day, same-day voter registration (SDR), automatic voter registration (AVR) through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and more.
Protecting returning citizens from unfair prosecutions by creating a centralized database for people with prior convictions to determine their voter eligibility.
The continued and escalating threats of racial discrimination in voting in Florida make this a perilous time for our democracy. The FLVRA would go a long way to counteract both recent and historical efforts to diminish the voting power of Black Floridians. Florida can and should lead in protecting the right to vote and promoting inclusive democracy by adopting the Florida Voting Rights Act.
The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Voting Rights Act of Florida is named to honor civil rights activists Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore. The Moore’s dedicated their lives to fighting for racial justice and equal access to the ballot box in Florida. Their groundbreaking work directly led to the registration of hundreds of thousands of eligible Black voters in Florida. The Moore’s were tragically murdered by white supremacists but their legacy lives on in the work to ensure free and fair access to the voting process for all Floridians.
Voting Rights
State VRAS can provide key protections to their constituents that prevent and guard against discriminatory voting practices and policies. Learn more about LDF’s work to advance state VRAs
LDF Original Content
A tandem approach of restoring and expanding federal voting rights legislation along with passing individual state VRAs is essential for providing the most robust voting protections for all voters.
Litigation
Filed in 2021, the lawsuit argues that S.B. 90 creates unnecessary barriers and burdens that disproportionately impact Black and Latinx voters, and voters with disabilities.
