By Miami Times Staff Report
Voters rights groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Florida Secretary of State, Florida Attorney General and election supervisors in several Florida counties challenging the state’s “exact match” voter verification process.
The law states that a voter’s name on polling records must exactly match how it’s shown on their driver’s license or Social Security card.
The plaintiffs, Florida Rising Together, represented by Advancement Project, Community Justice Project, Dechert LLP, and Associate Professor Mark Dorosin of Florida A&M Law, allege the law disproportionately impacts Black voters, in direct violation of federal voting rights laws.
The groups say Black voters in Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval, and Orange counties have had registration applications rejected at twice the rate of white counterparts.
“Florida’s ‘exact match’ verification process is just another tool of voter suppression. It’s an inaccurate, burdensome practice that creates extra hurdles for Black voters and violates federal law,” said Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project. “We will not allow Florida to cherry pick its voters nor set a dangerous example for other states. Every voter should have access to free and fair elections”
The suit says that since 2018, more than 43,000 individuals who submitted valid voter registration applications to Florida election officials have never been able to successfully register due to the “exact match” requirement.
“Black voters know that their voice is their power. By allowing the “exact match” verification process, Florida officials deny tens of thousands of Black voters and other voters of color access to our democracy,” said Moné Holder, Chief Political & Advocacy Director at Florida Rising. “Voters deserve more than to experience blatant discrimination and oppression at the hands of Florida election officials.”
“Florida’s “exact match” protocol, in practice, imposes a severe and unequal burden on Floridians’ fundamental right to vote,” added Angela Liu, a partner with Dechert. “We are committed to ensuring all eligible Florida voters, of every race, are able to register to vote, to vote and to have their votes counted.”
Plaintiffs say a legal challenge to a similar exact match law in Georgia in 2018 was successful, and the registrations of 40,000 people were eventually restored.
The civil suit is filed against Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the elections supervisors of Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval and Orange counties. It challenges the constitutionality of Florida statute 97.053(6) and seeks a permanent injunction and declaratory relief.