Miami-Dade Voters Protest New Election Law
DORAL (CBS4) - In just five days, Miami-Dade voters will be casting ballots for a new mayor. Some voters though may be in for a big surprise.
The Governor signed an election reform bill Thursday that is making major changes at your precinct.
The signing of the bill prompted protests in front of The Miami-Dade Elections office Thursday evening. Officials tried to kick them off the property but the demonstrators stayed.
Cedric McMinn, a member of the Young Democrats told CBS4's David Sutta, "I'm very upset. I think every voter in Miami-Dade County should be upset. This is the bedrock of our society. Voting"
House Bill 1355 reduces early voting from 15 days to now 8. Third party groups that register new voters must submit forms within 48 hours and voters who move out of their county will be given a provisional ballot at the polls, a paper vote.
"More than 50% of provisional ballots are discarded because you actually have to come back and prove that you actually live there. Something people don't do," said voter Millie Herrara.
This crowd, made up mostly of Democrats, explained this new law is the Republican answer to the 2008 campaign strategy that helped President Obama win Florida.
"This really is ultimately about voter suppression," Representative Dwight Bullard (District 118) explained.
Republican Governor Rick Scott, who we spoke with Wednesday, told us he doesn't see it that way.
"I want people to vote. Of course it would be nice if they voted for me. But I want people to vote. But also I want to make sure there is no fraud involved in elections." Scott said.
That's what the Republican sponsors of this bill believe it will help prevent. Whether it will or not depends who you ask.
"The system is not broken." Herrara said.
The law goes into effect immediately, which will affect the election of Miami-Dade's mayor next week.
Early voting must now stop three days before an election, which means the polls will be closed starting Sunday.
