Voter Registration

In part of a series of legal battles about Florida election-law changes, a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court on Thursday heard arguments in a challenge to a 2023 law that imposed restrictions on groups that collect voter-registration applications.

Democrats historically held a registration edge in the state, but Republicans overtook them in 2021 and have steadily expanded the lead.

Organizations and elections officials react to Florida’s changes in vote-by-mail and third-party registration.

Democrats held similar press conferences in Coral Gables, Delray Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville and Pensacola.

A federal judge Wednesday refused to block two parts of a new state elections law, while Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration appealed an earlier ruling that halted other parts of the law.

The lawsuit was filed in April by the League of Women Voters of Florida and the NAACP against Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

He paused parts of the law that would prevent non-U.S. citizens from “collecting or handling” voter-registration applications and make it a felony for voter-registration group workers to keep personal information of voters.

A federal judge won't decide whether or not to temporarily block new restrictions on voter registration groups until after the new law takes effect this weekend.

Voter registration groups primarily serving Hispanic and Latino communities are suing to block a new Florida law that will make it harder for them to operate.

The bill is a continuation of a years-long effort by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers to make elections-law changes that they contend are necessary to prevent wrongdoing.

On Friday, lawmakers approved Senate Bill 70-50. It now awaits the governor's signature.

The proposed bill would place additional restrictions on voter-registration groups and help clear the way for a potential White House bid by Gov. Ron DeSantis.