Read the settlement here: http://www.fairelectionsnetwork.com/webfm_send/155
Miami, Fla. - Yesterday, a settlement was announced in the lawsuit initiated by 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East, Advancement Project, Fair Elections Legal Network, Project Vote and LatinoJustice PRLDEF on behalf of two Florida citizens and 1199SEIU UHWE members, and several South Florida community groups, challenging Governor Rick Scott’s attempt to suppress their vote. 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.
“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.”
Melande Antoine, a nurse at North Shore Medical Center in Miami, Fla., 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… a shot at the American Dream. However, she has seen access to the dream slowly slip away. Like others, today she finds herself struggling to keep her home and feed her family. 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 other voters – primarily minority citizens in Miami-Dade County -- Melande and her husband were informed that they would be removed from voter rolls as non-citizens within thirty days, and 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… 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. However, I wanted to take a stand against the purge and Governor Rick Scott’s efforts to potentially suppress my vote. 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!”
The state has chosen to characterize these steps as ones it had already planned to take. That is not correct. It is only as a result of citizens, like Melande, taking a stand, and the litigation that ensued that the state has committed to take these steps and can be held accountable
Yesterday’s settlement requires the Florida Department of State to instruct supervisors of elections to reinstate voters who were improperly removed from the rolls, and to inform the thousands of citizens who were sent purge letters that they remain registered and may vote in November. The Department of State also agreed that voters may not be denied a regular ballot because their name appeared on the purge list.
Miami, Fla. - Yesterday, a settlement was announced in the lawsuit initiated by 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East, Advancement Project, Fair Elections Legal Network, Project Vote and LatinoJustice PRLDEF on behalf of two Florida citizens and 1199SEIU UHWE members, and several South Florida community groups, challenging Governor Rick Scott’s attempt to suppress their vote. 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.
“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.”
Melande Antoine, a nurse at North Shore Medical Center in Miami, Fla., 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… a shot at the American Dream. However, she has seen access to the dream slowly slip away. Like others, today she finds herself struggling to keep her home and feed her family. 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 other voters – primarily minority citizens in Miami-Dade County -- Melande and her husband were informed that they would be removed from voter rolls as non-citizens within thirty days, and 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… 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. However, I wanted to take a stand against the purge and Governor Rick Scott’s efforts to potentially suppress my vote. 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!”
The state has chosen to characterize these steps as ones it had already planned to take. That is not correct. It is only as a result of citizens, like Melande, taking a stand, and the litigation that ensued that the state has committed to take these steps and can be held accountable
Yesterday’s settlement requires the Florida Department of State to instruct supervisors of elections to reinstate voters who were improperly removed from the rolls, and to inform the thousands of citizens who were sent purge letters that they remain registered and may vote in November. The Department of State also agreed that voters may not be denied a regular ballot because their name appeared on the purge list.
