Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder - Officials Continue Mulling State's Voting Directive

Letter

Some of Florida's county elections chiefs met informally here today in part to discuss a recent Tallahassee directive that could force them to eliminate remote drop boxes for voters' absentee ballots. One of those officials afterward is to meet with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the lawmaker's Orlando regional office.

Nelson (D-FL) is in Florida this week and meeting with several of Florida's local elections supervisors regarding the potential impact of the new directive. He wants to know if it violates any federal election laws. And just today, he asked the Justice Department in a letter to review the state's move.

The directive, issued last week by Secretary of State Ken Detzner, would require voters to return their completed absentee ballots to their county's supervisors of election main offices only -- thus eliminating the use by many local supervisors of the so-called remote drop-off locations. Since being issued, Detzner's directive has caused a furor among county elections officials with some outright declaring they would defy the order.

One of the supervisors who opposes the directive is Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles who is scheduled to meet with Nelson this afternoon.

For Nelson's part, he's been outspoken in his criticism of the state's handling of so-called election reforms, since the Legislature passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed a law to reduce early voting hours prior to the 2012 presidential election. Nelson also took issue with the governor last year when there were long lines at the polls and Scott refused to extend early voting hours.

Earlier this year, Nelson filed legislation with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to reduce the time voters have to wait in line to cast their ballot in upcoming election.

Following is the text of Nelson's letter to the Justice Department along with a background article on the issue:

United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

December 5, 2013

United States Attorney General Eric Holder
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20530-0001


Dear Attorney General Holder:

I'm writing about a recent action taken by the Florida secretary of state regarding the return of absentee ballots.

On November 25, Secretary of State Ken Detzner issued a directive to Florida's county supervisors of elections stating that they should never solicit the delivery of absentee ballots to any location other than supervisors' offices.

County elections officials in Florida are questioning the directive and at least one has raised questions about federal funds sent down to Florida as part of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA, P.L. 107-252).

I am concerned about the impact this directive will have on citizens whose jobs, transportation or address, make it far easier for them to use mobile drop off locations. The supervisors of election whom I have met with take very seriously their role to make not only secure but also accessible to all eligible Floridians.

I'm asking for your review of this directive.

Sincerely,

Bill Nelson

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