Florida Department of State

Florida Department of State
Kurt S. Browning
Secretary of State

Voter Registration Verification Upheld

(April 7, 2008) – Last week, the U.S Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled in favor of Florida’s law regarding identification verification for voter registration. The case, NAACP et al. v. Browning, challenged a Florida law requiring verification of an applicant’s driver’s license number, state identification number or last 4 digits of social security number as provided on a voter application. The Florida Legislature passed the law in 2005 as part of its implementation of the Help America Vote Act. Late last year, a federal district court enjoined operation of the law.

“I remained confident the law would withstand the challenge in the courts," said Secretary of State Kurt Browning. Secretary Browning added that operation of the law will not resume immediately, as it is important that any change in procedures by implemented with care and that Supervisors of Elections not be subjected to more policy and procedural changes than necessary.