Bill on Florida Governor's Desk Could Shut Down Campus Early Voting

TALLAHASSEE -- If Governor DeSantis signs an elections bill that lawmakers passed last month, it could reopen the controversy over early voting on college campuses... that appeared to be resolved by a federal judge's injunction last year.

The League of Women Voters and other plaintiffs in an ongoing federal lawsuit over campus voting say the bill on DeSantis' desk has a parking requirement that could impose a backdoor ban on campus early voting sites. The bill says early-voting sites "must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking" to accommodate voters.

As most students and alumni know, parking is at a premium on many Florida college campuses, with many spaces either metered or requiring a sticker.

The state has asked a federal district judge to dismiss the case.

In his order Tuesday calling off the hearing, federal district judge Mark Walker did not take a position on the plaintiffs’ arguments, which included the possibility of filing an amended lawsuit to address the proposed parking requirement, saying that issues "will not be discussed and determined 'on the fly'."

Material from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.

Photo Credit: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images


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