Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 1, 2018

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A federal judge on Thursday said the system used by the state to vet which ex-felons get to have their voting rights restored is unconstitutional. “Florida’s vote-restoration scheme is crushingly restrictive,” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in a 43-page ruling. “The scheme crumbles under strict scrutiny because it risks — if not covertly authorizes […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2017

Two bills sponsored by Tampa House Democratic Minority Leader Janet Cruz are headed towards Governor Rick Scott’s desk. The House on Wednesday unanimously passed SB 800, the Senate companion to Cruz’ bill that will prohibit health insurers from denying patients the ability to receive a partial refill of a prescription if they choose to enroll in a medication […]

Jim RosicaDecember 12, 2016

A lawsuit against Florida A&M University by a Belize native who claims she was wrongly fired is headed to court-ordered mediation. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker last Friday ordered a mediation report by July 27, and tentatively set a jury trial to begin Oct. 16 if the parties can’t resolve the case. Glenda McDougall‘s lawsuit, filed in […]

Associated PressOctober 28, 2016

A federal judge wants to know why nearly 25,000 people who’ve applied to vote haven’t been registered in Florida. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has asked state election officials to tell him during a Friday hearing about their efforts to verify voter registration applications. Walker extended the voter registration deadline from Oct. 11 to Oct. […]

Associated PressOctober 20, 2016

A federal judge has rejected the Florida Democratic Party’s request to let people cast a ballot during early voting even if their registration application hasn’t been verified. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said Thursday morning there is no evidence that state officials are dragging their feet in verifying applications. Walker extended Florida’s voter registration deadline […]

Gary FineoutOctober 19, 2016

Florida Democrats, expressing worries that voters could be disenfranchised, want a federal judge to impose new election rules some state officials are warning could create chaos. The Florida Democratic Party this week asked U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to order state election officials to allow people to cast a ballot during early voting even if […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Tuesday night announced nearly 37,000 Floridians had become eligible to vote in the extra week of voter registration. He also said another nearly 27,000 applications were in the verification process, meaning the state could have almost 64,000 new voters on the rolls. Detzner did not provide a breakdown of new registrations by […]

Associated PressOctober 17, 2016

Florida’s top election official is going to accept a ruling that says the state must give thousands of voters a chance to make sure their vote-by-mail ballots are counted. Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Monday told county election supervisors that they needed to follow the order issued by U.S. District Judge Mark Walker. Walker […]

Associated PressOctober 15, 2016

A federal judge on Saturday issued a scathing rebuke to Florida’s top election official in an order canceling a hearing on a lawsuit over vote-by-mail ballots. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker accused Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner of delaying a hearing on the lawsuit “so that he could use every second available to run […]

Bob SparksOctober 13, 2016

Floridians now have an extra week to register to vote. The State of Florida, according to a federal judge, has set up “unconstitutional” firm deadlines for voter registration, which must be remedied. The offending statute is 97.055 Florida Statutes that says voter registration “must be closed on the 29th day before each election and must remain […]

Tag: Mark Walker
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Judge rules Florida’s voter-restoration process is unconstitutional

Two Janet Cruz-sponsored bills headed to Gov. Scott’s desk

FAMU ‘thick accent’ case referred to mediation

Federal judge to Florida: Why aren’t more people registered?

No evidence Florida is slowing voter verification, judge says

Democrats want judge to put in new voting rules for Florida

State could tally 64,000 new voters in extended registration period

Ken Detzner will comply with vote-by-mail ruling

Judge rebukes Florida’s top election official in ballot case

Bob Sparks: The unconstitutional burden of voter registration deadlines