Fighting for voters’ rights

The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun: The Florida League of Women Voters and the youth-oriented Rock the Vote announced recently that they are resuming voter-registration drives in our state. They were among the organizations that suspended the drives after the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1355 last year.

Among other provisions, the law added burdensome paperwork requirements for conducting drives, set almost-impossible deadlines for turning in applications and included draconian fines for even the most minor violations.

In May, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued an injunction, blocking several of the law’s restrictions from being enforced.

The League and Rock the Vote deserve credit for taking the state to court, and standing up for voters’ rights. After all that fuss in defense of voters’ rights it would be downright churlish for Floridians who are eligible to do so to fail to register.

This year eligible voters will choose a president and fill a host of congressional, state judicial and local offices. There will be tax cutting and tax raising measures on the ballot as well.

Something for everyone, in other words. But first you have to be registered.