Thursday, May 5, 2011

Florida Senate Poised to Create Presidential Preference Primary Date Setting Committee

With time running out on the legislative session (Friday, May 6 is the final day.), the Florida Senate moved Thursday on the House omnibus elections bill that would, among other things, create a committee to select a date for the Sunshine state's presidential primary. HB 1355 was first substituted for the Senate version of the bill (SB 2086) and then weathered a slew of Democratic amendments that sought to remove requirements in the bill it viewed as injurious to voters. To Democratic lawmakers the new law would disproportionately affect minority and college aged voters -- primary portions of the Democratic electorate. For FHQ's purposes, however, the main target of interest in this bill is the new committee which will have until October 1 to schedule a date for the presidential primary.

HB 1355 is on the May 5 calendar in the Senate and should see a vote today.


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