Obama DOJ Letter and Warning Effectively HALTS Florida's Voter Purge In Its Tracks

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Last edited Sat Jun 2, 2012, 10:14 PM - Edit history (5)

Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Tells Supervisors Friday to Halt Scott's Voter Purge

Obama Justice Dept.'s letter and warning to Florida's election officials effectively STOPPED republican Governor Rick Scott's voter purge of mostly minorities, immigrants, and Democrats . . .



Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections President Vicki Davis

As Supervisors of Elections Halt Voter Review, Florida Defends Actions

____ The DOJ letter and the state’s stance have caused the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections to advise supervisors today to put the review on hold.

“We need to discontinue working the possible ineligible list of non-U.S. citizens until the Department of Justice and Department of State have fully vetted the issue,” said Vicki Davis, Martin County supervisor of elections and president of the supervisors' association.

Davis noted she has received a number of calls from residents asking her to halt the review . . .

“We’re erring on the side of voters, and that’s the position that supervisors throughout the state are taking,” Davis said.


read: http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/as-supervisor-elections-halt-voter-review-florida-sticks-firmly-to-its-guns

related:

Secretary of State Ken Detzner defended efforts to remove noncitizens from the lists of Florida registered voters in the wake of the U.S. Department of Justice questioning the legality of the process.
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/ken-detzner-no-one-has-been-denied-right-vote

________________________

A lawyer for Florida's local election officials on Friday advised them to stop the effort to identify and purge ineligible voters until its legality is resolved. Legality of Gov. Scott's push must be determined, legal adviser says

State Association of Supervisors of Elections president Vicki Davis, the supervisor in Martin County, said she believed all 67 supervisors will listen to their legal adviser, Ron Labasky. With the exception of Miami-Dade County’s appointed supervisor, they are independently elected officials.

“It’s illegal under federal law, and I’m going to follow the law,” said Ion Sancho, the supervisor in Leon County.

Hours before the Justice Department letter arrived, a federal judge in Tallahassee temporarily blocked state restrictions on voter registration drives, saying opponents likely would win a lawsuit claiming those provisions are unconstitutional.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20120602/NEWS01/306020026/Election-supervisors-advised-halt-purge

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1. .

[kestrel91316]

2. That's what YOU think, lol. I predict RW locals in certain counties will go right on doing it.

Strongly worded letters don't stop fascists.

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5. the supervisors' lead lawyer advised the supervisors to stop

Last edited Sat Jun 2, 2012, 12:38 PM - Edit history (2)

. . . until the legality of the purge could be determined. As it stands, the purge looks to be beyond the date allowed for voter checks and against the law.

This isn't just a letter. It's notice of impending action by the Justice Dept. under its Section 5 authority under the Voting Rights Act. That authority was upheld in 2009 and buttressed by last months appeals court decision. Florida will either comply or they will be sanctioned.

[uponit7771]

8. +1!

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

[ladjf]

4. Somehow I remain skeptical. nt

[WriteWrong]

6. They haven't stopped

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014134421

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7. I'm not going to say that there won't be someone in the next few days who decides to step out

. . . and defy the warnings. but, I see Scott's and his honcho's bravado as a bunch of wind. Scott says they haven't yet decided whether to challenge the Justice Dept. in court. I think he knows he'd not only lose but expose other illegal voting restrictions and efforts in Florida to Justice Dept. scrutiny. That's likely already happening.

All of the supervisors who are the recipients of the voter lists are independently elected. Their lead lawyer say that they might be breaking the law if they continue. of course, I can't say for sure, but I'd bet there won't be one supervisor who is willing to stick their necks out for this now that the Justice Dept. is threatening action.

These counties can't afford the lawsuits. If there is any merit to the Justice Dept.'s complaints -- and I believe there is -- these supervisors and their county seat might be subject to more than just government sanctions. I can see individuals suing the State, county, and supervisors over it, if it's found by the Justice Dept. to be discriminatory.

Their lawyer is correct in advising them to halt. State Association of Supervisors of Elections president Vicki Davis, the supervisor in Martin County, said she believed all 67 supervisors will listen to their legal adviser.

[EFerrari]

9. Someone did defy the warning, the governor and the secretary of state.

The question remains open and imho you should edit your subject line to reflect that so people don't get the idea this has been resolved. I hope with you that the supervisors will mutiny but we don't know that yet.

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11. I tweaked it a little

I'll go with the President of the Association of Supervisors, tho . . . she believes all 67 supervisors will listen to their lawyer and halt whatever actions they were taking or thinking of taking to purge voters off of the rolls.

[EFerrari]

13. I hope that's right.

It's interesting (and telling) that Gov. EfFace is targeting Latino voters. Let's remember that when BushCo/GOP/RMoney claims gains in that group.

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14. If they don't relent

. . . this Justice Dept. will do as they did in Texas and South Carolina with their new 'voter id' laws' and inviolate the procedure. Folks can swim in their cynicism about the Justice Dept.'s response, but this is nowhere near the totality of their actions.

And what about that misreporting from the Huffington Post? I daresay, I have more to back up my assertion than they do in providing proof for their title in their article. All they do is spit out Scott's and his comrade's half-assed words of initial defiance. If Scott was serious he'd say more than he hasn't 'ruled out' a court challenge. What can he do if the supervisors refuse to do anything with the lists he sent them? They should be individually subject to court challenges as well by affected voters; especially if the Justice Dept. decides the purge is discriminatory.

There's just too much weighing against Florida right now for this to prevail without some serious sanction by the government or the courts. Moreover, Scott has opened his state's election procedures to even more scrutiny; especially if he opts to take this to court. He's not going up against some lone voter. He's looking to challenge the authority of the U.S. Department of Justice, with all of the resources available to Holder and co..

And, the authority of Holder under Section 5 of the Voting Rights act is clear and was upheld by the courts in rejecting a challenge in 2009*. This Justice Dept. is on firm ground and has already indicated repeatedly that they're ready to defend against these types of abuses -- just like they did in Texas and South Carolina in striking down their new 'voter id' laws.

[EFerrari]

15. The Justice Dept is on firm legal ground but the political turf may be another thing altogether.

It's been my impression that the Democrats have largely ceded Florida to BushCo and it's not clear if Obama wants to risk stirring that pot in an election year. It's complicated.

But I was thinking about the implications of the GOP working to disenfranchise one of their historical constituencies in FL. It might mean, they don't expect to get as many Latino votes as they have in the past (which is the trend I'd expect). They usually don't try to suppress their own voters.

ETA: I might make a little OP about this because I recognize that it isn't your main interest and shouldn't hijack here.

[WinkyDink]

10. Thanks for the laugh!

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12. glad to oblige

that's what I'm here for . . .the laughs.

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16. kick