On September 13, Floridians achieved a monumental step forward for voters’ rights, thanks to Melande Antoine, an 1199SEIU nurse from North Shore Medical Center who courageously challenged voter suppression. She was one of the two individual citizens who filed a lawsuit against Governor Rick Scott’s attempt to purge thousands of eligible voters.



Under the agreement, the state will reverse the harmful effects of its flawed purge program, which resulted in thousands of eligible voters being threatened with disenfranchisement, and caused widespread confusion among the voting public.



“I wanted to take a stand against the purge and Governor Rick Scott’s efforts to potentially suppress my vote,” said Antoine. “I hope that others will see that when you make your voice heard, the American system does work. I’m proud to be a citizen and I’m here to stay!”



Melande Antoine came to Florida in 1993 with her husband to seek a better life for her sick son. Like so many before her over the course of our history, she became a proud citizen in 2005. She wanted to ensure that her children would have access to have a better life.



Despite having lawfully registered several years ago, this spring Melande received an intimidating letter from election officials requiring her to prove her eligibility to vote. Along with more than 2600 primarily minority voters in Miami-Dade County, Melande and her husband were informed that they would be removed from voter rolls as non-citizens within 30 days. They were warned that if they voted it could be a felony. Melande was incensed as she viewed this as a discriminatory tactic to silence her voice and her vote. She would not stand for being held to a different standard than that of other citizens.



“As a citizen of this great country, it is my right and the right of all citizens to vote, regardless of where you came from,” said Melande. “Needless to say, the letter that we received was intimidating.”



“This is a giant leap for democracy in our state and a blow to voter suppression,” said Monica Russo, executive vice president of 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East. "Melande Antoine’s courage and conviction led her to challenge the voter suppression, which targeted naturalized citizens who came to this country in search of a better life. It takes the courage of everyday citizens who stand up and speak out that continue to inspire faith in our democracy and the American Dream.”