Senator Soto Files Amendments Protecting Students’ Access to Voting Booths Tallahassee —Concerned by attempts by Republican Governor Rick Scott to shut down student access to the voting booths, State Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) on Friday filed two amendments to a controversial elections bill adding public educational facilities, such as student unions, to the list of early voting sites. The amendments would also allow municipalities to choose early voting sites during off-cycle elections. “Young students are a vital part of our democracy,” said Senator Soto. “Their desire and willingness to help shape the representation of government should be encouraged. My amendments will ensure that their participation is not hampered in any way.” At issue is Senate Bill 7068 which would restrict early voting locations. The legislation is scheduled for a hearing on Monday before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. Critics say that the legislation is an attempt to codify attempts by Governor Scott – now running for reelection - to suppress Democratic turnout by reining in early voting locations, leading once again to prohibitively long lines such as those voters endured in the 2012 presidential election. Just last year, the Legislature expanded early voting sites to places such as civic centers, courthouses, stadiums and government-owned community centers. However, student unions were conveniently not included on the list and were even rejected as an amendment. In early February of this year, students requested that the city of Gainesville ask if it could use the University of Florida student union as an early voting site for the upcoming municipal elections, but Governor Rick Scott refused. The decision led to rallies by students opposed to the decision,
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:58:22 +0000
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