On the Legislature's final day of the 2013 session, Florida lawmakers approved a comprehensive elections reform bill that met with the approval of the League of Women Voters, who declared in a press release that the new laws will "ensure that Florida elections will no longer become fodder for late night television."
The bill passed the House 115-1 and 27-13 in the Senate.
In 2011 the GOP-led Legislature passed an elections reform measure that that state Democrats said reeked of voter suppression, with the most high profile issue being the reduction of early voting days. The legislation passed today increases the potential amount of early voting days from eight to 14 days, leaving that up ultimately to the local supervisors of election.
It also expands the locations for early voting from just election offices and city halls to include courthouses, civic centers, stadiums, convention centers, fairgrounds and government-owned senior and community centers.
This article appears in May 2-8, 2013.