Florida Voter Registration Deadline Extension Request

Lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Florida, League of Women Voters of Florida Education Fund and Florida State Conference of the NAACP against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd (R) requesting that the state’s registration deadline be extended due to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. In Florida, the voter registration deadline to vote in the November 2024 general election is Oct. 7, 2024. This year, the deadline falls between two hurricanes — Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, and Hurricane Milton, which is anticipated to make landfall the week of the voter registration deadline. The plaintiffs argue that DeSantis’ refusal to extend the voter registration deadline despite the interference of two natural disasters and mandatory evacuations violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by placing an undue burden on the right to vote. The groups ask the court to order the state to reopen the voter registration period for at least 10 days.

The plaintiffs filed their complaint on Oct. 8, 2024. The governor and secretary of state have not responded yet. On Oct. 9, a judge denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary injunction, thereby refusing to extend the state’s voter registration deadline.

RESULT: On Nov. 14, 2024, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case. The state’s voter registration deadline was not extended for the November 2024 general election.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 4:35 pm EST