In light of the coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic impacting residents’ ability to vote during the Florida primary today, we filed a case against the state late Monday demanding an extension of time to request and return mail-in ballots among other things to ensure all voters had access to the ballot.

Ignoring states like Ohio and Georgia, which postponed their primary races, Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, acted like business as usual stating, “they voted during the Civil War,” and took no new steps other than making hand sanitizer available to ensure safe access to the ballot. Concerned about elders and people with health issues, in addition to displaced college students who were told to leave campus—many being first-time voters—we first wrote a letter the governor requesting accommodations. It went unanswered. We then followed our model, bringing in our national ally, Demos, to help with getting a case ready, and grassroots partners in Florida, Dream Defenders, Latino Justice, New Florida Majority and Organize Florida to support our litigation, advocacy and communication efforts.

We learned today that the court denied our motion for a temporary restraining order seeking to expand vote-by-mail opportunities in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, but the case is not over! District Court Judge Robert Hinkle recognized the seriousness of the threat presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Judge Hinkle declined to expand voting options while the polls are open today in Florida, he made no ruling on the merits and left open the possibility of appropriate post-election measures that we believe can and should be taken to ensure voters impacted by the current public health emergency are able to participate in Florida’s presidential preference primary. Advancement Project National Office and our partners intend to continue fighting for expanded voting opportunities so that every Floridian can have their voice heard in this election and in November. 

Today, we urge voters who are unable or unwilling to go to the polls to request an emergency vote-by-mail ballot from their county Supervisor of Elections. Help us spread the word, letting Florida voters know they or someone they designate can get an emergency ballot, from the Supervisor of Elections office and request a vote-by-mail ballot. 

Tomorrow and the days to come, we will continue to have a fight on our hands and we need your muscle to help us win round two. We know COVID-19 is impacting all of us in different ways. For us, we are seeing devastating impacts in schools with closures and a disparity in resources as schools begin distance learning; in our migrant detention and mass incarceration systems, people incarcerated are now unable to receive visitors or receive needed healthcare; and free, fair and accessible elections are not being guaranteed for all people. With your support, Advancement Project National Office can change that. Help us make a difference. Help us fight for #FreeAndSafe communities.  

In solidarity,
Advancement Project National Office