The Andrew Goodman Foundation Condemns Florida’s New Anti-Voter Law
This morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continued his assault on voting rights by signing into law Senate Bill 90, which imposes anti-democratic rules and restrictions on mail-in ballots, dropboxes, early voting, and ballot drop-off periods. With 70% of youth voting early or by mail in the 2020 election, this new law targets young voters with almost surgical precision. The bill also shamelessly injects partisan politics into the ballot counting process by giving politically aligned observers more power to influence election outcomes. This law continues the unsettling trend of politicians trying to prevent voters from holding them accountable by limiting who has access to the ballot.
The newly signed law bans mobile dropboxes, limits ballot drop-off periods for early voting, forces voters to reapply for a mail-in ballot for every election, and adds additional document requirements for those requesting a mail-in ballot, among other restrictive and deceptive measures. These rules place arbitrary, vague, and excessive burdens on voters at a time when they are still dealing with increased challenges associated with the pandemic.
Governor DeSantis has been attacking voting rights, particularly those of students, since he assumed office. In 2018 and 2019, The Andrew Goodman Foundation along with 8 college students and the League of Women Voters of Florida successfully sued the state of Florida in federal court over voter suppression policies that explicitly targeted student voters by banning college campuses from serving as early voting sites. One of the provisions was part of a larger bill that was ultimately signed by Gov. DeSantis, which overturned a popularly supported ballot measure to re-enfranchise those who were formerly incarcerated.
July of this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which prohibits age discrimination in voting. As we approach the landmark anniversary of this overwhelmingly bipartisan amendment, it is shameful that Governor DeSantis and other politicians are wasting time and resources trying to undermine the right to vote. This is why The Andrew Goodman Foundation strongly supports the passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. It is time we make all elections safe, fair, and accessible to all Americans. Join us in demanding the passage of these essential protections by contacting your federal representatives via the #RespectMyVote website.
