Florida Democrats Criticize Scott for Not Extending Registration
Rick Scott Says No to Extending Voter Registration Dates
Florida’s Democratic Congressional delegation criticized Gov. Rick Scott for not allowing four more days of voter registration.
“It will be logistically challenging and likely impossible for many who would like to register to vote to be able to do so before the impending deadline on October 11th,” a letter said.
The letter was sent by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and also included Sen. Bill Nelson and Reps. Corrine Brown, Alcee L. Hastings, Kathy Castor, Ted Deutch, Frederica S. Wilson, Lois Frankel, Patrick Murphy and Alan Grayson.
Scott said he will not allow four more days of voter registration, despite prodding from Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
“Everybody has had a lot of time to register,” the two-term Republican governor told reporters. “On top of that, we have lots of opportunities to vote: early voting, absentee voting, Election Day. So I don’t intend to make any changes.”
The Clinton campaign had called for extending the deadline for voter registration in Florida, which ends Tuesday, in light of Hurricane Matthew. Democratic organizers in the state said they cancelled their voter registration drives because of the storm.
According to University of Florida professor Daniel A. Smith, 50,000 voters registered to vote in the final five days of registration in 2012.
Conversely, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, also a Republican, extended voter registration in her state because of the hurricane.
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.
