Groups Ask Florida To Stop Voter Roll Purge

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A coalition of civil rights and voting organizations have asked the State of Florida to stop its push, directed by Governor Rick Scott, to remove non-U.S. citizens from the state's voter rolls.

The group sent a letter to Secretary of State Ken Detzner threatening a lawsuit if Florida doesn't stop the planned purge. The coalition said federal law bans the state from removing voters from the rolls less than 90 days before a federal election.

Florida will hold its primary election on August 14.

The move comes after state officials asked local election supervisors to check the status of more than 2,600 people and remove them from the rolls if they were not U.S. citizens. The state claims the move was legal and that it's obligated to remove ineligible voters.

Florida Congressman Ted Deutch also told the website Think Progress Wednesday that he was also set to send a letter to Governor Scott asking for the voter roll purges to be stopped.

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