TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott faces a May 22 deadline for deciding whether to approve a bill that would lead to online-voter registration in Florida.
The bill (SB 228), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, was approved during the legislative session despite opposition from Secretary of State Ken Detzner. It is one of 68 bills that the Senate sent to Scott last week, triggering a May 22 deadline for the governor to sign, veto or allow the bills to become law without his signature, according to a list on the governor's office website.
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Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux issued a statement Monday calling on Scott to sign the online-registration bill, pointing to bipartisan support that it received in the Legislature.
"Online voter registration is a no-brainer: It saves the state money, has universal support from supervisors of elections, and is more secure than paper forms,'' Arceneaux said. "Both parties in the Legislature recognized that expanding voter participation is good for our democracy. We need to seize this opportunity."
Scott also faces the May 22 deadline on issues such as a bill (SB 186) that would allow 64-ounce beer "growlers" in Florida; a bill (SB 290) that would allow more people to carry concealed weapons during emergency evacuations; and a bill (SB 7078) that would make changes in the state's child-welfare system.