Advocacy group sues over Florida’s voter registration process

A federal lawsuit has been filed by Florida Rising Together, a nonprofit advocacy group, challenging the state's voter registration verification process. The lawsuit targets the "exact match" requirement, which mandates that voter registration applications must align perfectly with data from Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Social Security Administration. According to the lawsuit, this process disproportionately affects Black voters, creating significant barriers to their ability to register and vote. The group claims that since 2018, more than 43,000 individuals have been unable to register successfully due to this stringent requirement. Moreover, the lawsuit points out that the federal database used for verification is often unreliable, leading to false and inconsistent results.

The complaint also emphasizes that the "exact match" protocol is rooted in a legacy of systemic disenfranchisement and ongoing racial and economic discrimination in Florida's electoral process. Florida Rising Together is represented by a coalition of legal advocates, including the Advancement Project and Florida A&M University Law School. This lawsuit seeks to ensure that all eligible voters, particularly those from marginalized communities, can register and participate fully in Florida's political landscape.