Florida’s election supervisors are asking the courts to resolve the state Senate redistricting saga by March 15 to protect the “quality and integrity of the (voting) process.” The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections filed its notice Wednesday with Circuit Judge George Reynolds, who is in the process of deciding how to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts. Reynolds, who sits in Tallahassee, held a trial on the matter last week. His recommendation goes to the Florida Supreme Court, which has the final say on a new map. With Florida’s primary election on Aug. 30, the supervisors need lead time “to remap and re-precinct their counties following approval of new Florida Senate districts by this Court.” Absentee ballots must go out 45 days before the primary, and new polling locations will have to determined.
“Qualifying for federal and state candidates (including state Senate) will occur the week of June 20-26, 2016,” says the filing, submitted by longtime association attorney Ron Labasky. “Candidates must know the district lines before this time in order to determine which district they will run in and qualify for.”
Moreover, new maps and precincts “must be presented to the respective board of county commissioners for approval,” it says. “This total process will take a minimum of 60 days after receipt of the new Senate map from the Florida Supreme Court.”
Full Article: Elections supervisors to court: Decide Senate redistricting by March 15, please – Florida Politics.