"As the Secretary should know well, the State stopped the Department of Justice from reviewing the most discriminatory portions of the law and, moreover, the Department of Justice is only reviewing these changes for compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act – not their legality or fairness overall," said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. "To suggest otherwise is dishonest."
Simon noted, however, that some of the changes precleared Tuesday -- including a measure allowing the attorney general to rewrite ballot language for legislatively-sponsored constitutional amendments -- are being challenged in court.The U.S. Department of Justice gave the go-ahead on Tuesday to the least controversial elements of a massive overhaul of Florida elections law, shifting attention to the legal battle over the most contentious parts of the measure.
DOJ's ruling means that 76 provisions of the law can take effect in five Florida counties that, because of a history of racial discrimination, require preclearance from federal officials under the Voting Rights Act. A lawsuit could still be filed challenging the provisions under the Voting Rights Act.
Four other provisions of the law – the most controversial – are still awaiting approval from a federal court before they can be implemented in those five counties.
Secretary of State Kurt Browning has already said the entire law will be enforced in the 62 counties that don't require preclearance.
"I am appreciative of the work the DOJ has done to approve Florida’s new election laws," Browning said in a statement released by his office. "Their decision confirms what we already know, that Florida’s new election laws are fair and not discriminatory. I expect the federal district court will also agree that the new laws are fair when it reviews the remaining provisions."
The approval comes little more than a week after Browning went to the federal district court in Washington, D.C., in an effort to secure approval for the four most bitterly contested provisions of the bill -- including a reduction in the number of early-voting days, new rules for third-party voter registration organizations, limits on when voters can change their addresses and new standards for citizen initiatives.
Browning said he was worried that pressure from "outside groups" might prevent the state from getting a fair hearing for its new law, but critics said the rare legal maneuver was an attempted end-run around a hesitant Justice Department. Many of them blasted Browning's announcement Tuesday.
The Florida Democratic Party, which has maintained that the law is a thinly-veiled attempt to undermine President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, also slammed Browning's statement.
"By announcing the DOJ ruling without news of the remaining four provisions, the governor and secretary of state are attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of Florida voters," party Chairman Rod Smith said.
Simon noted, however, that some of the changes precleared Tuesday -- including a measure allowing the attorney general to rewrite ballot language for legislatively-sponsored constitutional amendments -- are being challenged in court.The U.S. Department of Justice gave the go-ahead on Tuesday to the least controversial elements of a massive overhaul of Florida elections law, shifting attention to the legal battle over the most contentious parts of the measure.
DOJ's ruling means that 76 provisions of the law can take effect in five Florida counties that, because of a history of racial discrimination, require preclearance from federal officials under the Voting Rights Act. A lawsuit could still be filed challenging the provisions under the Voting Rights Act.
Four other provisions of the law – the most controversial – are still awaiting approval from a federal court before they can be implemented in those five counties.
Secretary of State Kurt Browning has already said the entire law will be enforced in the 62 counties that don't require preclearance.
"I am appreciative of the work the DOJ has done to approve Florida’s new election laws," Browning said in a statement released by his office. "Their decision confirms what we already know, that Florida’s new election laws are fair and not discriminatory. I expect the federal district court will also agree that the new laws are fair when it reviews the remaining provisions."
The approval comes little more than a week after Browning went to the federal district court in Washington, D.C., in an effort to secure approval for the four most bitterly contested provisions of the bill -- including a reduction in the number of early-voting days, new rules for third-party voter registration organizations, limits on when voters can change their addresses and new standards for citizen initiatives.
Browning said he was worried that pressure from "outside groups" might prevent the state from getting a fair hearing for its new law, but critics said the rare legal maneuver was an attempted end-run around a hesitant Justice Department. Many of them blasted Browning's announcement Tuesday.
The Florida Democratic Party, which has maintained that the law is a thinly-veiled attempt to undermine President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, also slammed Browning's statement.
"By announcing the DOJ ruling without news of the remaining four provisions, the governor and secretary of state are attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of Florida voters," party Chairman Rod Smith said.
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