Florida and Georgia pressured to extend voter registration deadlines – Washington Examiner
In the wake of natural disasters, specifically Hurricane Helene and the impending Hurricane Milton, voter registration deadlines in Florida and Georgia are under scrutiny. Currently, voter registration has closed for the 2024 elections, but organizations such as the League of Women Voters of Florida and the NAACP are advocating for a reopening of registration for at least 10 days. They have filed a lawsuit in federal court, with support from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). They argue that citizens should not have to choose between their safety and the right to vote during these emergencies. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, however, has dismissed these requests, insisting that registration remains accessible. He stated that changes to election protocols were authorized and that citizens can register to vote despite the challenges posed by the hurricanes.
Florida and Georgia under pressure to extend voter registration deadlines
Voter registration has closed for the 2024 election in Florida and Georgia, but some groups are pushing for the window to reopen after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc and as Hurricane Milton approaches.
In the Sunshine State, the League of Women Voters of Florida and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to reopen voter registration for at least 10 days. They are being represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Voter registration in Florida closed Monday, more than a week after Hurricane Helene and two days before Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall on the state’s west coast.
“Floridians are reeling from Hurricane Helene and preparing for the impending threat of Hurricane Milton — and should not be forced to choose between safety and exercising their fundamental right to vote,” Matletha Bennette, senior staff attorney for voting rights at the SPLC, said in a statement Wednesday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) rejected calls for an extension to the voter registration deadline at a press conference Monday ahead of the deadline.
“There’s nothing inhibiting you registering today,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis authorized changes to election procedures in the counties most affected by Hurricane Helene via executive order, including allowing local officials to set up voting centers and change early voting locations.
A federal judge will hold a hearing on the Florida lawsuit Wednesday afternoon.
In Georgia, the NAACP filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday seeking an extension of the voter registration deadline through Oct. 14, a week after the Oct. 7 deadline.
“In a historic election year, it is vital that every eligible voter has an opportunity to cast their ballot. As millions of Georgia residents grapple with the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, Georgia’s election officials, and state leaders have a duty to ensure a fair elections process,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson and NAACP Georgia State Conference President Gerald Griggs said in a joint statement Tuesday.
“Extending the voter registration deadline is essential to give impacted communities the time they need to recover and fully participate in the election process,” the statement continued.
The Georgia lawsuit has a hearing in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
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