State college system students will press voting rights and access issues in Tallahassee

Feb. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- After a successful testimony before the field hearing of the U.S. Senate's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights in Tampa last Friday, students will be in Tallahassee on February 2nd pressing the same issue. Specifically, the Florida College System Student Government Association (FCSSGA), representing the state's 1 million college system students, will be rallying to oppose HB 1355 while proposing the expansion of early voting, including to their campuses, and enactment of same-day voter registration.

Students have taken the lead this year in rejecting a thinly veiled voter suppression law and proposing substantive alternatives to improve access to voting in the general public interest. FCSSGA's February 2nd rally, press conference, and meetings with legislators follow a January 26th rally by the Florida Student Association (FSA), representing the state's 330,000 public university students, which took the same position on the issue.

FCSSGA' s official position calls for the repeal of HB 1355, passage of SB 516, which would expand early voting and allow for use of college campuses, and enactment of same-day voter registration in Florida. Eight other states and Washington D.C. already provide same-day voter registration services.

The position was introduced to FCSSGA by the Student Government Association of Palm Beach State College's Boca Raton campus after hosting a presentation on HB 1355 by the Florida Initiative for Electoral Reform (FLIER). FCSSGA's membership formally adopted the position in November. The group's stance in defense of voting rights and voting access earned them an invitation to testify before the federal hearing on HB 1355 in Tampa.

At 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 2nd, FCSSGA will hold a rally on the front steps of Florida's Historic Capitol followed by a 10 a.m. press conference on the Fourth Floor Rotunda near the Senate Chamber.

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The Florida Initiative for Electoral Reform is a non-partisan coalition of groups and individuals recognizing the need for electoral reforms to enrich and expand democracy in our state and its localities. In addition to advocacy, we seek to provide education on electoral reform and the policy solutions necessary to realize it. We are working towards a vibrant democracy with accessibility for the average person, a competitive political environment, and pluralism in policy and decision making. For more information please visit http://www.floridaelectoralreform.org or e-mail info@floridaelectoralreform.org.