Florida Democrats filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to extend the state’s deadline for voting registration as Hurricane Michael bore down on Florida’s Panhandle.

The storm, which strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane as it swept through the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to intensify and possibly make landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 monster. Michael will be the strongest hurricane to hit the Panhandle in more than a decade.

Dozens of counties have already declared states of emergency, and the Democrats’ lawsuit seeks an emergency injunction to extend the Oct. 9 deadline, arguing it has become too difficult for some Floridians to meet.

The Department of State’s offices were closed Tuesday due to the coming storm, and in 35 of Florida’s northern and northwestern counties, Mr. Scott also ordered offices closed.

• 

  Deleted.

  by cheeki kea

Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott previously extended the registration deadline in those counties where closures have occurred by one day after the day they reopen, but the lawsuit seeks to have that window expanded to one week to Oct. 16.

“Last night, the governor directed the extension of the voter registration deadline for Supervisors of Elections who are forced to close because of Hurricane Michael,” said John Tupps, Mr. Scott’s communications director. “That means that each county will have the same amount of days to register voters. The governor believes that every eligible voter should be able to register to vote.”

Democrats contend that extension is insufficient.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/9/dems-sue-extend-florida-voter-registration-michael/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork