Gabrielle Russon
A pair of Democrats are pushing a new law to make it mandatory for Florida’s public universities and colleges to be used as early voting sites.
Sen. Tina Scott Polsky and Rep. Debra Tendrich filed bills that would require main campuses to be opened up for early voting, which is something some counties are already doing in Florida.
The legislation (SB 1634, HB 1473) requires at least one early voting site at a school’s main campus, and also calls for a public awareness campaign to inform students about voting opportunities. The campaign, “at a minimum,” must inform students through regular mail and electronic mail, as well as social media and signs around campus, according to the measures.
The identical bills address early voting, which in some places, like Orange County, drew long lines during the General Election as people were deciding between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as well as several high-profile referendums on abortion rights and legalizing marijuana. Some people waited two or more hours in line, a group of Orange County Democratic leaders said in a letter voicing their concerns and complaining about the early voting sites being understaffed.
Floridians, in general, are big fans of early voting.
Nearly 9 in 10 Floridians said they supported early voting, according to a poll conducted by Tyson Group last year of 1,000 likely voters.
If passed, the new legislation would take effect July 1.
Polsky, a Boca Raton Democrat, and Tendrich, a Lake Worth Democrat, did not return messages for comment Friday.
Their bills were filed just before Regular Session convenes Tuesday
Lawmakers were already called to Tallahassee for three Special Sessions earlier this year that were focused on immigration enforcement. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a package of bills that beefed up laws over illegal immigration, gave $250 million to local law enforcement for reimbursement for taking up on more immigration enforcement responsibilities and took away in-college tuition waivers from undocumented students known as Dreamers.
2 comments
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
February 28, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Well, Sage Patriots, lets think this over:
1.) Universities and Collages are populated by 86.765% Dook 4 Brains Leftys.
2.) The Florida Legislature and Govornor are Majority Sage Patriots.
THEREFORE:
The bill has a “LESS THAN” Zero chance of becoming Law in The Free State of Florida.
Thank you,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
Peachy
February 28, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Colleges and universities are propaganda training centers for the young, naive, and impressionable students that are enrolled there. Teachers and professors spew their junk here. Most of the faculty members simply can’t function in the real world so they set up camp here. Of course Demo lawmakers would like to tap into these young people before they get out in the real world and start thinking for themselves.