Advocate group: Florida voter registration not adequate

Sunday, April 13, 2008

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Project Vote said the state needs to comply with federal law or the state could end up in court.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- National voter advocate groups are threatening a lawsuit against the state of Florida, claiming Florida's public assistance agencies are violating federal voter registration laws.

The groups said Florida agencies are not offering voter registration forms to low-income people.

The National Voter Registration Act is designed to increase the number of people who are eligible to vote.

"All groups, you know, whether you're based on income, race, gender, etc. should have an equal opportunity to register to vote and an equal opportunity to vote," said Dianne Wheatley with the League of Women Voters.

Workers at the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Family Services are all required to offer registration forms and help people if they want to register to vote.

According to Project Vote, registration at Florida's public assistance agencies has been on a downward spiral for the last 10 years.

Andrew Ritter, Bay area spokesperson for the Department of Children and Family Services, disagrees.

"I don't believe that it's true, and I can show you based on how we handle applications for food stamps, Medicaid and cast assistance," Ritter said.

Records show thousands have answered the registration question that pops up on the screen for those who seek the DCF's assistance over the computer.

"I just got mine in the mail yesterday," said Marsha Wesley, who recently registered to vote. "It's funny you say that. I did. I applied two weeks ago."

There were also registration forms near the photocopying machine inside one of the service centers.

But the group Project Vote said there are some counties in the state that are not following the law.

Organizers said they even interviewed some clients who said they never received any voter registration services.

Florida's health secretary has reportedly sent agency workers a memo reminding them of their voter registration responsibilities.

The DCF's attorney said they are willing to meet with the voting advocate groups to discuss their concerns.

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