Washington, DC (March 13, 2020) – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Common Cause Florida and other organizations issued a letter requesting that, in light of the challenges posed by the recent outbreak of coronavirus, the State of Florida and County Supervisors of Election take additional steps to protect ballot access and voter health during the March 17, 2020 primary election. The organizations expressed concern that registered voters will not appear to vote at their assigned polling places on Election Day due to the numerous polling place relocations resulting from concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
Specifically, the organizations request (1) expanding early voting in all counties through Monday, March 16, 2020; (2) extending the hours for early voting in all counties; and (3) opening additional vote centers in all counties on Election Day, where registered voters can vote outside of their assigned polling locations.
Julie M. Houk, Managing Counsel for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law said, “These new actions will help ensure that voters can cast their ballots without undue fear for their health, and help alleviate stress on local counties while they are preparing poll sites in the midst of a pandemic.”
“We don’t want concerns about coronavirus to get in the way of Floridians exercising their responsibility to vote in the presidential primary,” said Liza McClenaghan, Common Cause Florida state board chair. “Anyone who is concerned about visiting a polling place on Tuesday should know about all the other options for voting.”
Additionally, the letter contains two other plans of action. The first would be extending the deadline for vote-by-mail ballots and counting all ballots postmarked by Election Day as long as they are received within 10 days of the election, thus matching the overseas vote-by-mail ballot timeline. The organizations also urge the state to allocate emergency funds to the Supervisors of Elections for advertising and direct voter communication about polling place changes as well as to defray the cost of implementing any of these new processes.
Election Protection is the largest non-partisan voter assistance program in the nation and consists of over 100 national and state based non-partisan organizations. The Election Protection program in Florida is co-led by Common Cause Florida and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and includes a network of local partners, such as All Voting is Local Florida, and volunteers on the ground.
The Florida Election Protection program is helping voters by way of the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline to ensure that voters know how to take advantage of all available opportunities to cast their ballot, and is committed to ensuring that all voters are able to exercise their voice despite this electoral season’s unique challenges. Anyone who encounters problems voting during the Florida primary is encouraged to call an Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE/866-687-8683, the Spanish/English hotline at 888-VE-Y-VOTA/888-839-8682, the Asian languages hotline at 888-API-VOTE/888-274-8683, the Arab/English hotline at 844-YALLA-US/844-925-5297, or the Florida Disability Rights Hotline at 800-342-0823,
To read a copy of the letter issued to Governor DeSantis, click here.
For interviews or information on the 3/17 press briefing on the Florida primary, contact:press@lawyerscommittee.org
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. Now in its 55th year, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and voting rights.
