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Florida Defies Feds, Purges Voter Lists

GOP says purge needed to keep non-citizens off voting rolls

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2012 3:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – Feds are telling Florida to quit purging its voter lists, insisting the process is kicking off many legitimate voters, but Florida won't stop, reports the Guardian. State officials say the purging, which so far has removed 2,600 names, is necessary to ensure that non-citizens aren't voting. But critics say there's little evidence non-citizens are voting, and that the intent of the government, currently controlled by Republicans, is to bounce Democrats from the rolls. One analysis of Miami-Dade County indicated that of 385 people who were bounced, only 10 were not citizens.

Critics also say that the process of eliminating names from voting lists—comparing driver's license information with citizenship records—is flawed. "It's not by accident that Florida is doing this and all these other states that have Republican governors are doing it," said a leading Democrat. But Florida isn't budging. "We have a year-round obligation to make sure the voter rolls are accurate. We are going to continue, and do everything that we can legally do to make sure that ineligible voters cannot vote," said a spokesman for the Florida secretary of state.

Broward County canvassing board member Judge Robert Rosenberg uses a magnifying glass to examine a disputed ballot at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2009.
Broward County canvassing board member Judge Robert Rosenberg uses a magnifying glass to examine a disputed ballot at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2009.   (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 82 comments
beckjr2000
Jun 4, 2012 2:29 PM CDT
Good for Florida. The voter rolls should be as accurate as possible. There is no excuse in this day and age for anyone not to have a Government issued photo i.d. Not all the people removed will be illegal aliens! Some will have died or moved away and haven't voted in some time. A fair number will be convicted felons who have lost their right to vote. I can't wait until America gets to purge the Department of Justice!
Mastadon
Jun 4, 2012 2:23 PM CDT
Actually there is substantial evidence that non-U.S. citizens and convicted felons who have lost their voting rights are voting in FL and all over the country.  People think they can come to this country and by-pass the process to become citizens and defraud every immigrant who legitimately has sworn an oath to become a U. S. citizen.  Voting is a privilege reserved for citizens.    Clean house Florida!
gomer99
Jun 4, 2012 2:09 PM CDT
Has anyone found a person dumped wrongly ? ........anyone ?
 

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