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Nelson seeks petition dirve to overturn voting laws

Posted Nov 9, 2011 by William March

Updated Nov 9, 2011 at 01:48 PM

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is seeking to start a petition drive to overturn new elections laws passed in the last state legislative session, which Republican advocates say are aimed at efficiency and combatting fraud, but Democrats and other opponents say are aimed at suppressing voter turnout in the 2012 election.

Nelson has already called for congressional and U.S. Justice Department investigations into whether the laws are part of a nationwide effort at voter suppression instigated by conservative advocacy groups.

“Sign the petition to the Florida Legislature: Stop this attack on teachers and democracy,” Nelson said in an email to supporters today. It includes a link to the petition, addressed to state House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, both Republicans and supporters of the legislation.

Nelson, a Democrat, is running for re-election in 2012.

The new laws limit times available for early voting, which is popular with minorities; make it more difficult for non-governmental organizations to conduct voter registration drives; and make voting more difficult for those with address changes and name changes, which is expected to affect female and young voters.

Nelson is calling attention to a well-funded conservative advocacy group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which includes numerous Florida Republican legislators, including backers of the new laws. ALEC formulates model legislation for state legislators nationwide to consider. A dozen Republican-controlled states have passed voting laws similar to those recommended by ALEC, which Nelson says could indicate a national conspiracy to violate voting rights.

Several Florida high school teachers have run afoul of the new laws, and could be subject to investigations or fines, by failing to comply with technical requirements of the new laws in helping students register to vote.