Thread by @DemocracyDocket

🚨⚖️COURT ALERT: Tomorrow, the 11th Circuit will hear oral arguments on Republicans' appeal to keep 3 provisions of Florida's omnibus voter suppression law #SB90 in place and release the state from preclearance requirements.

Here's what you need to know.👇🧵

In May 2021, Florida enacted massive voter suppression law #SB90. The law:
❌Bans volunteers from giving food and water to voters
❌Restricts drop boxes
❌Undermines third-party voter registration organizations and more.
democracydocket.com/news-alerts/go…

Back in March, a federal district court judge blocked three parts of #SB90 — the line-warming ban, drop box restrictions and a warning requirement for third-party voter registration organizations.
democracydocket.com/news-alerts/fl…

The judge ruled that these provisions “specifically target Black voters” in violation of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. democracydocket.com/analysis/break…

In an extraordinary move, the district court also placed Florida under preclearance requirements for the next 10 years — a power granted to federal courts under a section of the VRA if they find that jurisdictions have engaged in intentional discrimination in voting practices.

This came after the court concluded that “Florida has repeatedly, recently, and persistently acted to deny Black Floridians access to the franchise.”

The state appealed this decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court allowed Florida to enforce the challenged provisions of SB 90 while it hears the Republicans' appeal.

An oral argument is scheduled for tomorrow. The state’s Republican officials along with the RNC & NRSC will argue that the previously blocked provisions of SB 90 aren’t “intentionally discriminatory” against Black Floridians in violation of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

The Republicans’ end goal? Keeping SB 90’s suppressive provisions in place.

We will update you with any major developments as they occur. In the meantime, find background information and all of the court filings here.👇
democracydocket.com/cases/florida-…