Federal judge hears arguments on voter registration extension after state website crash
TALLAHASSEE – A federal judge on Thursday was considering whether to extend Florida’s voter registration deadline after the state’s website crashed Monday, the scheduled last day to register before the Nov. 3 election.
A coalition of voters' rights groups sued, saying Secretary of State Laurel Lee’s extension of the deadline to 7 p.m. Tuesday wasn’t enough and some people were still unable to register.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker questioned lawyers for the groups and for the Florida Department of State, focusing on the harm caused by the problems with the website, and what effect any extension would have on the operation of the elections.
Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley stated in an affidavit filed in the case that a further extension would “serve to reinforce the confusion and mistrust voters have surrounding this election, further strengthening the rampant misinformation and disinformation campaigns that are already undermining the November general election.”
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-2020-voter-registration-extension-court-case-20201008-ytoce7coarbyrbvfslaybc2z6i-story.html