Democrats Challenge Fla. Voting Policy

Democrats Challenge Fla. Voting Policy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state Democratic Party filed a federal lawsuit accusing Florida's secretary of state of violating federal law when she told elections supervisors to reject incomplete voter-registration forms.

The party asked a judge to order Glenda Hood to reverse her instructions to the state's 67 counties.

Hood's office told counties they should disqualify voters who failed to check a box confirming they are U.S. citizens, even if they signed an oath on the same form swearing they are. She and other state officials maintain that state and federal laws require the box to be checked.

"The Secretary of State's Office says they want to err on the side of the voter, yet they want to disenfranchise people," party Chairman Scott Maddox said.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday, the same day the NAACP sued a county elections supervisor in federal court, alleging the county disenfranchises blacks by having only one early voting site in an area where fewer minorities live

The NAACP wants Volusia County elections chief Deanie Lowe to open another such site by Oct. 18 in the eastern part of the county, where more blacks live. The only site now is in DeLand, the county seat.

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