Governor Crist already flip flopped on extending Florida Early Voting Hours

[populistdriven]

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/10/crists-flip-flo.html#comments


Proving once again, that he has no problem changing his mind, here's Gov. Charlie Crist on whether he has the authority or the will to extend early voting hours around 11 a.m. this morning.

"I don't believe we do (have the authority to extend voting hours). Under the law, it's open for eight hours per day and eight hours for the weekend. And that's what's happening in the counties throughout the state. I think it's been the most open opportunity for people to vote early that we've ever had. In addition to voting early, if they want to vote by mail, they can vote by mail. And they can vote Election Day. Florida has been terribly embracing of making sure that every voter who is qualified has every opportunity to vote and we should be very pleased by that."

Listen to it here: http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/files/earlyvoting.mp3

[Hope And Change]

1. Strange.It`s on his website:

GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS

~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~

October 28, 2008

Contact:

GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
[phone]


TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

“I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot,” Governor Crist said. “I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote.”

Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.

Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county’s Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.

Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.


more...

http://www.flgov.com/release/10320

[Tesibria]

2. THAT WAS THIS MORNING - that's prior news.

[silverweb]

6. Thanks for clearing that up.

Thought I was going :crazy:

[Hope And Change]

7. Oh.Thanks for clarifying that.

[populistdriven]

8. Thanks and sorry for my confusion o_O

[silverweb]

3. Got the correction.

Sounds like somebody maybe put some pressure on him -- or is this just another way of muddying the waters and confusing voters?

So the executive order is valid and is in effect for extended voting hours! :applause:

[high density]

4. Evidently he does have the authority

Because he made the announcement later in the day after that post.

[Tesibria]

5. And, re: the law: .. see here

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0101/SEC657.HTM&Title=->2008->Ch0101->Section%20657#0101.657

101.657 Early voting.--
(d) Early voting shall begin on the 15th day before an election and end on the 2nd day before an election. For purposes of a special election held pursuant to s. 100.101, early voting shall begin on the 8th day before an election and end on the 2nd day before an election. Early voting shall be provided for 8 hours per weekday and 8 hours in the aggregate each weekend at each site during the applicable periods. Early voting sites shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later than 7 p.m. on each applicable day.

I can only assume that upon further look, they determined that the bolded sections means that the polls MUST be open (at least) 8 hours. The law does not prohibit longer hours, although it requires that polls may not open BEFORE 7 am or AFTER 7 pm.