AP: Judge Blocks Fla. Voter Registration Law

By CURT ANDERSON
The Associated Press
Monday, August 28, 2006; 1:29 PM

MIAMI -- A federal judge on Monday declared a new Florida voter registration
law unconstitutional, ruling that its stiff penalties for violations threaten
free speech rights and that political parties were improperly exempted.

The 48-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz means that state
authorities cannot enforce the provisions of the law. It took effect Jan. 1 and
has been blamed by several labor unions and nonprofit groups for effectively
blocking voter registration drives across the state because of the financial risk.

The law also "unconstitutionally discriminates" against third-party registration
groups because it does not apply to political parties, Seitz added.

The law imposes fines of $250 for each form that is submitted to election officials
more than 10 days after it is collected from an individual and can reach $5,000
for each form that is collected but never submitted.

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