Although an elections reform bill passed 118-1 in the Florida House of Representatives on the first day of the session, Democrats on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections aren't being nearly so acquiescent, with every Dem on that committee today opposing a similar bill sponsored by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala.
The bill now floating through both chambers overhauls much of the controversial elections bill of 2011 — the one that critics said was designed to suppress the votes of Obama supporters in 2012 — but it doesn't go nearly far enough for Senate Democrats.
One amendment offered by Orlando Democrat Darren Soto that appeared to anger Republicans would repeal a provision that prohibits voters who have moved out of the county listed on their drivers license from casting a regular ballot. The current law says they must vote provisionally, which means those votes are not counted on election night.
This article appears in Mar 14-20, 2013.