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A trial kicked off Monday in challenges to a 2023 Florida law that imposed new restrictions on “third-party” voter registration groups, with plaintiffs arguing the changes are unconstitutional and the state saying the law is aimed at enhancing election security.
The law is part of a years-long effort by the Republican-controlled Legislature to crack down on voter-registration groups. Organizations including the League of Women Voters of Florida, Hispanic Federation and the NAACP filed a series of lawsuits challenging the law, arguing in part that it unconstitutionally targeted groups that play an important role in signing up Black and Hispanic voters.
Brent Ferguson is an attorney for the League of Women Voters.
He argues, in part, that the law unconstitutionally targeted groups that play an important role in signing up Black and Hispanic voters.
“Preventing non-US citizens from helping people and levying big fines and felony prosecution on groups who just want to express their First Amendment rights and help people register to vote is a big problem. All of those laws should be struck down.”
Attorneys for the state say the law is aimed at enhancing election security.
The trial is scheduled to last for two weeks.