Media Center

Common Cause Florida, Fair Districts Now, and a diverse group of individual plaintiffs from across the state filed a federal lawsuit today in the Northern District of Florida arguing that the court must step in to ensure that voters, candidates, and elections officials have a fair and representative congressional map in ample time for the 2022 elections.

Our ‘government by the people’ is stronger and more representative when more people vote. SB 524 flies in the face of that ideal. The Appropriations Committee should stop this steamroller in its tracks and defeat this bill.  

The substitute dropped yesterday would make changes to what seems like every facet of election law, at the same time elections supervisors are trying to implement all the changes made last year. In addition, the supervisors need to prepare for tasks from redistricting and reprecincting.

Earlier today, a panel of national and Florida redistricting experts briefed the media on the history and state of play in the current redistricting cycle. The panel discussed past legislative action and litigation to end partisan and racial gerrymandering in the state. They also described how to implement an accountable and transparent process that results in fair district maps.

“Every voter in America has the right to have their voice heard, by casting and having their ballot counted — that’s how our government ‘by the people’ is supposed to work. Florida voters should have the freedom to cast their ballots in the same ways they have voted in past election cycles.”

"We are particularly concerned that SB 90, by design, seeks to silence voters’ voices based on what they look like or where they come from," the organizations said.