Voter suppression continues in Florida

What is the justification for reducing the number of early voting days?

What's the justification for having early voting in the frst place? Is it Constitutional?

The Fifth Circuit’s decision is a fascinating read that draws heavily on Foster v. Love 522 U.S. 67 and U.S. v. Classic 313 U.S. 299. The decision provides three basic reasons why early voting is not de facto unconstitutional.

First,

Because the election of federal representatives in Texas is not decided or “consummated” before federal election day, the Texas scheme is not inconsistent with the federal election statutes as interpreted by the court in Foster.

Second, the Court could not

“logically hold that Texas’ system of unrestricted advanced voting violates federal law without also finding that absentee balloting–which occurs in every state– violates federal law.

And, finally, the Court could not

conceive that Congress intended the federal election day statutes to have the effect of impeding citizens in exercising their right to vote.

Is Early Voting Constitutional


So, I will ask again, what is the justification for reducing the number of early voting days? They haven't done away with it completely. Why reduce the number of days that early voting is available?

What is the justification for reducing the number of early voting days?

Again I ask is early voting Constitutional?

TITLE 3 > CHAPTER 1 > § 1
§ 1. Time of appointing electors
The electors of President and Vice President shall be appointed, in each State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President.

United States Code: Title 3,1. Time of appointing electors | LII / Legal Information Institute

Again I ask is early voting Constitutional?

TITLE 3 > CHAPTER 1 > § 1
§ 1. Time of appointing electors
The electors of President and Vice President shall be appointed, in each State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President.

United States Code: Title 3,1. Time of appointing electors | LII / Legal Information Institute

How does that passage of the Constitution make early voting illegal? The electors are still being appointed on Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

The U.S. law TITLE 3 CHAPTER 1 § 1 gives a specific date when election are to be held. Nothing more or nothing less.

The U.S. law TITLE 3 CHAPTER 1 § 1 gives a specific date when election are to be held. Nothing more or nothing less.

According to a new Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters, Rick Scott is now one of the country’s most unpopular governors, a dubious feat after only four months in office.

It’s bad news for Republican Party bosses, but all is not lost. Scott recently signed a new election bill that is callously designed to suppress voter turnout, making it harder for many disgruntled Floridians to cast a valid ballot in 2012.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state, so GOP leaders are desperate to find ways to keep certain people away from the polls. One of the Legislature’s top priorities was to change the voting rules to avoid a repeat of 2008, when Barack Obama won the state’s 27 electoral votes on his way to the presidency.

Obama benefited from early-voting days, which proved popular among minorities, college students and retirees. Republican officials became incensed during the election when then-Gov. Charlie Crist — one of their own — decided to extend polling hours to accommodate the long lines.

The nerve of that guy, making it easier for common citizens to vote!

Determined not to let this whole democracy thing get out of hand, the GOP-held Legislature crafted a bill that reduces the number of early voting days from 15 to eight, and requires some voters who have moved to cast provisional ballots, a deliberate inconvenience aimed at students.

Historically, provisional ballots are counted at a much lower rate than regular ones, meaning many young voters won’t get heard — exactly what Scott and the Republican leadership want.

The new bill also throws out a rule that had been in effect for 40 years allowing Floridians to update their legal addresses when they arrive to vote. Now you can only do that if you moved within the same county.

GOP won’t let democracy get out of hand - Carl Hiaasen - MiamiHerald.com

What's the justification for having early voting in the frst place? Is it Constitutional?

Most people get off at around 4pm. The lines are tremendous.

Early voting is a great idea. I rarely vote on election day.

It gives a specific day as to when electors are appointed by each state. It says nothing about people not being able to vote over a period of a week or two and having all votes tallied on Election Day to determine who those electors will be.

If it's unconstitutional as you say and all these Republicans changing these early voting windows are such "protectors" of Constitutional law, then why are they shortening the early voting window rather than just eliminating it completely?

And the Elections are held on those days, the votes are not tallied and counted until that day, but the VOTERS can vote prior to that day.

Article 1, Section 4 provides:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

Early voting has been upheld in court. There is no getting around it so, I will ask again...What is the justification for reducing the number of early voting days?