Gov. Scott Slammed For Enforcing Voter Deadline In Storm

Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida has drawn the ire of many after refusing to extend his state’s voter registration period in light of Hurricane Matthew, which some say could keep tens of thousands of Florida residents from registering and potentially impact the outcome of the presidential election.

Approximately 1.5 million Floridians have evacuated their homes under mandatory orders and could miss the October 11 deadline to register as they wait out the storm, reports NBC News. Though many, including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, have pleaded with Scott to extend the deadline for those who have been displaced by the weather, he did not do so.

“Everybody has had a lot of time to register,” Scott said on October 6. “On top of that, we’ve got lots of opportunities to vote: Early voting, absentee voting and Election Day. So I don’t intend to make any changes.”

Those who register just before the election are also the most likely to show up, based on data gathered from past elections. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to take advantage of late registration, since young voters, newly-naturalized citizens and the poor tend to have fewer resources that would enable them to register early and also tend to vote blue.

But when Scott was asked on October 7 whether his decision was aimed at helping Republican nominee Donald Trump, whom he has endorsed, Scott said only that he is “focused on a storm.”

“I’m focused on making sure … you don’t lose a life,” he answered.

Barbara Goodman, the president of the nonpartisan Florida League of Women Voters, said that Scott’s actions amount to “voter suppression” if he does not change his decision.

“What is the harm in extending voter registration in these areas?” asked Goodman, who said that there was a “massive voter registration intake” that suddenly halted when the storm hit. “Why would he not be open to that?”

Georgia and South Carolina, both of which are also severely affected by the storm, have both extended their registration deadlines.

At least two individuals have died in Florida in storm-related occurrences, notes WPTV.

Sources: NBC News, WPTV / Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr