The Florida Division of Elections press briefing this morning was more of the same from state officials – more questions than answers for voters wondering who will protect their rights this November.
State officials have continued to shift responsibility for the potential felon purge list from the Division of Elections office to county election supervisors facing short deadlines, potentially flawed lists and a shortage of resources. The state made the list public, allowing voters to find out if they are in danger of being wrongly kept from voting, only after being ordered to do so by a judge. And although state officials claimed today that the state will err on the side of the voter, no clear explanation was given for more than 2,100 voters that the Miami Herald has identified as wrongfully placed on the list.
"The fundamental question here is what's being done to protect the voters of Florida," said Ralph G. Neas, president of People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF). "The state is running out of time and the people of Florida will pay the price for inaction."
“Instead of taking responsibility for a list that could cause an Election Day disaster, the Division of Elections is shifting accountability and leaving Florida voters in the dark,” said Sharon Lettman-Pacheco, National Director of PFAWF's Election Protection Program. “We will work to keep the spotlight on and to make sure every eligible voter gets to cast a ballot – and that every vote is counted – on Election Day.”
Any voter whose name is on the list in error can contact the county elections supervisor or call the Election Protection toll free hotline at -866-OUR VOTE for help.