Florida judge rejects request to broaden provisional ballot law

The Palm Beach Post reports: A Leon Counjudge rejected a challenge to the state's provisional ballots Wednesday, ignoring lawyers' arguments that some voters will be so confused by precinct changes caused by hurricanes and redistricting that they won't know where to vote in November.

Circuit Judge L. Ralph Smith Jr. also refused to certify the suit as a class action on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, the AFL-CIO, and the union representing state and municipal workers.

Attorneys for the unions said they plan to ask the District Court of Appeal to send the case directly to the Florida Supreme Court so a final decision can be issued before the Nov. 2 presidential election on whether voters must cast provisional ballots in their own precincts as state law requires. ...

Opponents of the current law want Floridians to be able to cast provisional ballots in any precinct and have the canvassing boards later count only the votes in the races in which that voter was eligible to cast a ballot. -- Judge rejects challenge to provisional-ballot law (Palm Beach Post)