NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY For Immediate Release: September 23, 2008 Contact: Eric Jotkoff, 850.222.3411 ***CRITICA

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2008

***CRITICAL ALERT***
McCain, Crist and FL GOP Must Speak Out Against GOP Plan to Use Foreclosure Lists to Challenge Voters

TALLAHASSEE - As John McCain and his Republican Party travel the state from Ormond Beach to Sarasota, passing thousands of foreclosed Florida homes and dashed American dreams along the way, media in Central Florida are reporting that the Republican Party plans to use foreclosure lists to challenge voters on Election Day.

Florida voters deserve better. In response to this news and a recent letter from RPOF Chairman Jim Greer, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman sent the letter below to Greer.

Recently, in Michigan, the Republican party there was forced to make a pledge to a federal court that they would not use foreclosure lists to challenge voters.

Florida voters deserve straight talk from the Republican Party of Florida, who must disavow this tactic.

The letter follows:

October 23, 2008

James A. Greer, Chairman
Republican Party of Florida
420 E. Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dear Chairman Greer,

I am following up again on your letter from October 1, 2008, when you stated that the Republican Party of Florida is not only worried about protecting Floridians' votes, but that you wanted to work with the Florida Democratic Party in a bi-partisan effort to ensure the integrity of the vote is protected.

I was very encouraged by your letter and looked forward to discussing how we could work together to ensure that all eligible Florida's voters could cast their legal vote free of any harassment or intimidation and have it counted. I write to you today, for a second time, take you up on your offer to work together and to protect Florida's voters from being illegally disenfranchised.

As you may have seen, the DeLand-Deltona Beacon, which covers Western Volusia County, published an article on October 10, 2008, headlined: "In Volusia County thousands are newly registered, but may be challenged at polls."

According to the newspaper, Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall, a Republican, told the Chamber of Commerce on October 7: "One party that we know of is going to challenge every voter that's being foreclosed on." The Beacon reported that Supervisor McFall later noted that the party known to be focusing on foreclosure challenges was the Republican Party.

This ploy to challenge legitimate voters, at a time when they are facing very tough economic times, is disgusting and shameful. Hard-working people are losing their homes every day in Florida and now some in the Republican Party wants them to lose their votes, too?

When news emerged several weeks ago that Republicans in Michigan were preparing a similar foreclosure-based challenge plan, the Republican party there was forced to make a pledge to a federal court that they would not use foreclosure lists to challenge voters.

Now is the time for you to prove your Party's, Governor Charlie Crist's and Senator John McCain's commitment to protecting Florida voters by denouncing and ceasing any efforts to challenge voters who have lost their homes. Democrats were encouraged when Governor Crist recently denounced those in your party who develop these underhanded tactics, saying, "As we're coming into the closing days of any campaign, there are some who enjoy chaos."

I am confident, based on your letter to me and Governor Crist's recent comments, that you will act quickly to denounce this tactic in Volusia County and anywhere in the great state of Florida - without either of us having to go to court like our colleagues were forced to do in Michigan.

I urge you and the Governor to join me in demanding that your colleagues in the Republican Party and McCain-Palin campaign immediately cease any and all efforts to disenfranchise voters with frivolous and deceptive challenges. As you know, under Florida law it is a crime to frivolously challenge voters (Fla. Stat. 101.111(2)), so it should not be difficult for you to commit to this effort.

Foreclosures continue to rise in Florida. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune today reported that county foreclosures there during the month of September were up 39 percent. We should be doing all we can to help those who are losing their homes - not taking away their rights.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon, and I hope we can find ways to work together to protect voters from being frivolously challenged and unlawfully denied their constitutional right to vote.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party

To download a PDF copy of the letter, please click here:
http://www.fladems.com/page/-/documents/Thurman%20to%20Greer%20on%20election%20protection%2010-23.pdf

News articles regarding Volusia County Supervisor of Elections, Ann McFall's comments on Republican Party's attempts to challenge voters whose home has been foreclosed:

The DeLand-Deltona Beacon:
In Volusia County thousands are newly registered, but may be challenged at polls
http://www.beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/1170

WFTV Channel 9:
Central Florida Foreclosures Could Lead To Challenges At The Polls
http://www.wftv.com/news/17784210/detail.html

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