TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Marching down Duval Street to the Capitol, members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, NAACP and other civic groups chanted, “Our voice, our vote, we won't be denied.”
They're upset with Republican lawmakers who passed a controversial elections law last year.
During their 10th annual "State of Black Florida" conference, they rebuked the law, which reduces the number of days for early voting and restricts organizations conducting voter registration drives.
“There's no reason for it, often times we put laws on the books because of a problem that needs to be solved,” said Rep. Mia Jones, (D) Chair of the Black Caucus, “but this was a law that was put on the books because they wanted to create a system that would hinder voters coming out in mass numbers.”
They say it's an effort to suppress minority voters, who in 2008 came out in large numbers for Barack Obama for president.
But supporters of the measure dismiss the criticism.
When Republican lawmakers passed the bill last year, they said the measure was to reduce voter fraud in Florida.
“There's no been no attempts to suppress,” said Jeff Howell, Leon Co. Republican State Committeeman, “everybody has an interest--white, black, whatever ethic origin--that everybody that's voting is a qualified and registered voter.”
The measure is now a part of a legal challenge and federal review.
