Voting & Democracy

Current Campaigns

Florida Legislature 2009

Florida PIRG is currently working to defeat legislation that would create excessive fines for third party voter registration groups while making it harder for new voters, the elderly & minorities to vote. This bill would also eliminate election protection efforts in the state while creating new campaign finance loopholes. Click here for more info.

New Voters Project

The New Voters Project is the largest grassroots youth voter outreach movement in the country. Find our more about our work to create life-long voters and boost civic participation. Read more.

Dependable Elections

Gov. Crist recently signed legislation (HB 537) that requires all counties to use voting machines that produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot. This is a significant victory for voters and the integrity of Florida elections but there is more work to be done. Read more.

Save The Voters Voice

Voters should have the right to amend their constitution. We’re working to protect that right and stop legislators from restricting the ability of citizens to use the ballot initiative process. Read more.

Overview

The American system of representative democracy relies on an engaged citizenry and fair representation, yet voter turnout is lower than it should be, elections lack strong audit requirements that can give voters confidence and in Florida the districts themselves are drawn by elected officials to benefit themselves or their party. That’s why Florida PIRG is fighting to make verifiable, high quality voting machines the standard. We’re registering tens of thousands of young and low-income new voters across the country. And we’re supporting measures that will ensure a fairer way to draw political districts and we are protecting the citizens' ballot initiative process.

Florida PIRG's Brad Ashwell discusses a controversial Elections Bill on News Channel 7. This state legislation would disenfranchise voters, make it harder to vote, and would create new campaign finance loopholes.