© 2025 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Thanks to you, WUSF is here — delivering fact-based news and stories that reflect our community.⁠ Your support powers everything we do.

Florida Democrats Sue To Extend Voter Registration Deadline

crownjewel82
/
Flickr

The Florida Democratic Party is asking a federal judge to extend the state's voter registration deadline at least a week due to Hurricane Matthew.

The party late Sunday filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner. It comes a few days after Scott publicly turned down a request from Democrats to extend the state's Oct. 11 registration deadline.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida points out that Scott urged Floridians to "evacuate, evacuate, evacuate" ahead of Matthew. The storm scraped the state's eastern coast and is blamed for at least four deaths in Florida. It contends Scott forced voters to choose between their safety and their right to vote.

Scott said he did not extend the deadline because people have had enough time to register.

Our daily newsletter, delivered first thing weekdays, keeps you connected to your community with news, culture, national NPR headlines, and more.