Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning has asked a federal court to review the state’s new election law, sidestepping the Obama administration’s examination of the most controversial pieces of the law that was a major priority for the GOP-led Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Critics of the new law have been lobbying the U.S. Justice Department to invalidate the new law, saying it disenfranchises voters, particularly women and minorities. The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging part of the law in court and Rev. Jesse Jackson held rallies in Florida this past week in protest of the bill.
… Howard Simon, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, accused the state of making the move simply out of fear that the law would be invalidated. The law is already in effect for the remaining 62 counties.
“By making this move, the Governor has exposed the taxpayers to a much longer, more costly legal fight to defend his indefensible Voter Suppression law,” Simon said in a release.” It’s should be as clear as ever that they will spend whatever it takes and do whatever they can to restrict the right to vote and stack the deck for the 2012 election and beyond.”
Full Article: Browning avoids Obama administration review for parts of election law – Central Florida Political Pulse – Orlando Sentinel.