Miami Herald reports more than 2100 wrongfully listed

People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF) announced this morning that it is giving Florida voters the opportunity to search the list of 47,000 “potential felon matches” the state claims may be purged from the voter rolls. The list is now a public document available as a result of the July 1st decision by Leon County Circuit Court in CNN v. Florida Department of State. Following the ruling, PFAWF obtained a copy to allow people to see if their name is on the list and to take the necessary steps to ensure their right to vote if their name does not belong there.

“The Miami Herald reported today that at least 2,119 voters are wrongfully named on this list because they were granted clemency by the state and had their rights restored,” said PFAWF president Ralph G. Neas. “The state has admitted there could well be errors, which could include individuals who have never even committed a crime. We have encouraged county election supervisors to verify the list before purging anyone from the voting rolls. Now we can help voters check for themselves.”

Any voter whose name is on the list in error can contact the county elections supervisor or call the Election Protection toll free hotline at 1-866-OUR VOTE for help.

“It is critical that we begin reaching out to voters now to help them determine whether they have been wrongfully tagged as potentially ineligible to vote,” said Neas. “The time is now to help every eligible voter cast a ballot that counts in 2004.”

Election Protection 2004 is the nation’s most far-reaching program to protect voter rights from now through Election Day and beyond. The nonpartisan voter information, advocacy and protection program is carried out by a coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to cast a vote that will be counted on Election Day.