League News

Common Cause Florida and the League of Women Voters of Florida have begun a new effort to reform the redistricting process. The political committee, FairDistrictsFlorida.org, has filed two petitions with the Division of Elections in the Secretary of State’s Office. The petitions, which have been approved, would create new requirements for drawing congressional and legislative districts. If the proposed constitutional amendments are adopted by Florida voters, congressional and legislative districts could not be drawn to favor incumbents or political parties. Districts would have to ensure that racial or language minorities have the opportunity to fully participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. They would also have to be compact, contiguous and utilize existing city, county and geographical boundaries. The petitions will give Florida voters the opportunity to end the political manipulation of districts by the legislature to protect incumbents and enhance political party power. Click here to download and sign the petitions.

December 28, 2007

Florida's new voter ID law on hold
BY GARY FINEOUT, Miami Herald

People who show up for early voting next month will be able to use an employee badge or buyers' club card as identification, despite new election laws taking effect Jan. 1 that eliminate their use. In the spring, the GOP-controlled Legislature tightened up the types of photo IDs that could be used by voters, but the new law has been put on hold because the U.S. Department of Justice has yet to sign off on the change.

Florida's top election officials this week told election supervisors to ignore a handful of voting law changes because federal authorities are still reviewing them to see if they would adversely affect minority voters.

Click here to read entire article.

December 13, 2007

League Joins Grassroots "Florida Is Our Home"
Ballot Initiative Committee to Fight Property Tax Initiative

A broad coalition representing well over 1 million voters filed the paperwork today to create "Florida Is Our Home," a ballot initiative committee to coordinate a statewide grassroots effort to defeat Amendment 1 on January 29th. The coalition includes a diverse group of social service advocates, retirees, community organizations and groups representing teachers, firefighters and other workers. Some of those groups include; the Florida PTA, the Florida League of Women Voters, Florida ACORN, the Human Services Coalition and Florida Alliance of Retired Americans, as well as the Florida AFL-CIO, SEIU, Florida Education Association and the Florida Association of Professional Firefighters.

The committee will be chaired by Karen Woodall, a long-time social service advocate who is respected on all sides of the political spectrum for her tireless dedication to improving the lives and communities of all Floridians. She said, "We have created Florida Is Our Home to educate all Floridians about the negative impacts of Amendment 1 on our communities and our state. When all is said and done, the bottom line is that this is a bad deal for Florida's families." While proponents of the amendment are highlighting the fact that most homeowners may save some money, Florida Is Our Home wants the voters to know that the average $20 a month homeowners may save will cost our schools, public safety and critical programs that enhance our overall quality of life dearly. Woodall said, "This misguided amendment will hurt all aspects of life in Florida. Schools and public safety, parks and recreation programs, libraries and after school programs, even public sanitation will suffer greatly if this amendment passes." Florida Is Our Home will be a true grassroots effort and will enable the diverse groups represented to build on their own member mobilization efforts already underway to include a broader public. Woodall, continued, "This is not going to be a Donald Trump, people who winter at their mansions on the beach committee, this is going to be a true, people powered effort by Floridians who live, work, raise their families and play here year round. Supporters of Amendment 1 may have a million dollars, but we have a million voices and will use those voices to tell the people of Florida the truth about this tax scam."

August 28, 2006

Federal Judge Protects the Right to Vote in Florida
Court Blocks Law Creating New Obstacles to Voter Registration

LWVF Moratorium on League Voter Registration Activities LIFTED

May 18, 2006:

League of Women Voters and Others File Suit to Stop Florida Law's "Chilling Effect" on Voter Registration

Click here to read about LWVF Moratorium on League Voter Registration Activities

April 20, 2006:

The VOTER Newsletter Now Available on our Website!

The VOTER newsletter in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format) is now available on our website.

To view the newsletter, you must have Adobe Reader software, which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

March 23, 2006:

Florida Supreme Court Rules Against Redistricting Amendment for November 2006 Ballot

The League of Women Voters and Common Cause are deeply disappointed by the decision of the Florida Supreme Court to prohibit voters from considering an initiative on November’s ballot that would have reformed the redistricting process to make politicians more accountable, ended the practice of politicians choosing their voters and stopped the unfair splitting of communities for partisan political advantage.

On March 23, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the proposed Amendment 5 to the Constitution, upon which voters would have voted in November 2006, did not contain a single subject as required by the amendment process to the Florida constitution.

“More than 930,000 Floridians have already expressed support for redistricting reform by signing petitions to get this proposal on the ballot. It is tremendously disappointing that so many citizens care so deeply about creating a fair system and that the measure won’t be on the ballot,” said Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Committee for Fair Elections Chairman and Common Cause Florida Executive Director Ben Wilcox said “Passage of Amendment 5 would have ensured that Florida would have compact districts that represent existing communities and it would have removed politicians from the process of drawing their own districts. Common Cause will continue to push for meaningful redistricting reform to create a fair process that holds politicians accountable to the voters.”

March 19, 2006:

LWV of Florida Declares Moratorium on League Voter Registration Activities

December 15, 2005:

Redistricting News

WE MADE THE GOAL!!! The statewide reapportionment citizen petition signature gathering total is 775,000 as of December 15, 2005!

Gratitude to Caroline Emmons Schramm for her outstanding leadership for LWVF for this campaign. To Florida Leagues, do congratulate each other. Fine job!!!!

The oral arguments before the Florida Supreme Court are scheduled for the 1st week of February.

October 27, 2005:
Copies of Local Voices: Citizen Conversations on Civil Liberties and Secure Communities Are Now Available

Due to high demand, LWVEF has reprinted copies of the Local Voices report. These reports are great resources for League events about homeland security, civil liberties and government transparency. To order, please email pubsales@lwv.org and order Pub. #2076, or click here to download a copy in PDF format. The reports are free, but shipping and handling will be charged.

October 27, 2005:
Update on the Redistricting Petition Drive:

531,519 Petitions Collected!

September 8, 2005:
Update on the Redistricting Petition Drive:

The drive to gather petitions for an independent redistricting commission is continuing. 294,540 voters have signed these petitions already.

The petition to set standards for drawing districts has been challenged. But even without it, the other petitions would set up an effective commission. Members are urged to continue getting signatures to all three petitions.

For more information: Contact the Committee for Fair Elections.

Sign the Florida Redistricting Petitions.

To get petitions locally, contact: gertdesjardin@cox.net

Spring 2005:

Betty Castor and Campaign for Florida's Future Launch Plan to Promote Fair Elections. Click here to read about the plan.

Sign the Florida Redistricting Petitions

February, 2005:

LWVUS Celebrates its 85th Birthday!

December 23, 2004:

Remembering Rosemary Tosi

October, 2004:

LWV of Alachua County/ Gainesville Receives Award from Alachua County Library District Foundation