Jeb Bush's new legislation will tighten his grip on Florida election laws

[dzika]

Posted on Thu, Feb. 17, 2005

Jeb Bush wants to tighten state's grip on election laws

State officials would gain much more control over elections -- and the purging of voter rolls -- under a sweeping legislative proposal drawn up by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Department of State.

BY GARY FINEOUT


TALLAHASSEE - In a move that would dramatically increase state control of elections, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state elections office will ask the Legislature for greater authority, including the ability to decide which voters should be purged from voting rolls.

The secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor, also would be given strong enforcement powers, including the authority to seek criminal charges and fines up to $5,000 against any of the state's 67 election supervisors -- most of whom are elected -- who fail to follow the rules.
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But the two biggest changes place complete control of voter registration rolls in the state's hands. The state would determine voter eligibility and decide whether to purge people from the rolls, including convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored. Under existing law, the state draws up a felons-purge list, but it is left to supervisors to remove voters from the rolls.


DEMOCRATS WARY

The state would gain this authority even though it was forced last summer to scuttle its felons list after news organizations showed it was riddled with errors, among them the exclusion of Hispanic felons. State officials contend the new system won't repeat those mistakes, but some Democrats are unconvinced.

''I think the state showed gross incompetence with the felons list last time and I'm very skeptical why they would have the sole power'' to purge the rolls, said House Democratic Leader Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale.


more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10919708.htm?1c

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It looks like they are preparing to steal the next election. Here is a related story from today...

Florida Secretary of State, Glenda Hood, pitches election law changes

Florida Republican Secretary of State, Glenda Hood, has a plan to grant herself "sweeping powers" and become the "ultimate referee" of Florida election law.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Florida%20Elections