U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has met with county elections chiefs to discuss a recent Tallahassee directive that could force them to eliminate remote drop boxes for voters’ absentee ballots.
Nelson asked the Justice Department in a letter to review the state’s move. He said he wants to know if it violates any federal election laws.
The directive, issued last week by Secretary of State Ken Detzner, would require voters to return their completed absentee ballots to their county’s supervisors of election main offices only – thus eliminating the use by many local supervisors of the so-called remote drop-off locations. Since being issued, Detzner’s directive has caused a furor among county elections officials with some outright declaring they would defy the order.
One of the supervisors who opposes the directive is Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles who is scheduled to meet with Nelson this afternoon.
For Nelson’s part, he’s been outspoken in his criticism of the state’s handling of so-called election reforms, since the Legislature passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed a law to reduce early voting hours prior to the 2012 presidential election. Nelson also took issue with the governor last year when there were long lines at the polls and Scott refused to extend early voting hours.
Earlier this year, Nelson filed legislation with Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, to reduce the time voters have to wait in line to cast their ballot in upcoming election.