Signs Banned From Polling Places

Circuit Judge Janet Ferris agreed with the Florida Democratic Party that posting signs in polling places that alert voters that Joe Negron is running in place of Mark Foley violates state law.

Ferris granted their request for an emergency injuction on Wednesday, which prevents supervisors of elections from posting such signs.

opinion.pdf

Update! Secretary of State's Office plans to appeal.

Comments

Democrats SUPRESSING voter information! Democrats have a long tradition of enocuraging ignorance in voting on the facts.

Democrats SUPRESSING voter information! Democrats have a long tradition of enocuraging ignorance in voting on the facts.

More free press for Negron!. Go Joe

You have got to be kidding. I still can't get over the fact that the Democratic Party is so scared that they don't want to even notify voters of the change on the ballot. Now if this were a Democrat who was running in place of another Democrat they would say that Bush made the judges make this decision and that "it's not fair"

The Florida Democrat Party is full of idiots. I'm shocked they are trying to hide information from voters.

Voters arent stupid, like the Dems believe.

The Dems are afraid of a fair fight.

Next thing you know, they'll try to disqualify military ballots. Wiat they did that already!

The Dems are afraid of a fair fight.

Next thing you know, they'll try to disqualify military ballots. Wait they did that already!

[Omega83]

The statute says nothing as to whether or not the Supervisors can or cannot post a notice..

I fail to understand her ruling...Because the Legislature was silent on the matter, it therefore translates the notices are illegal??!

bullshit...

Judge even says the notices will help prevent voter misunderstanding

As long as they post a sign saying Mark Foley Vote = Joe Negron Vote 100 feet from the building, then it should be legal.

Exemplifies again the hypocrisy of the Democratic party in this state. Butterfly ballots were too confusing for voters, but an incorrect name on the ballot is not?

If they want to trust the intelligence of the voters, so be it! Apparently, they did not consider which party would ultimately benefit from such a philosophy...

Judge Ferris strikes again - embarassing.

Absurdity. Judge with an agenda.

Do what you can to keep the Republicians out of office..Dirty game and I hope the Demos loose.

Will the pathetic Tallahassee news show us what happened today??

[jaguar]

I am shocked, shocked, to learn that a judge in Florida has ruled against the GOP in an election dispute.

What's wrong with the Tallahassee news? You are fully up to date on the storm cloud over Perry and you've been informed that there's a 2 year old cat up for adoption at the shelter. What else do you need to know?!?!

[Dave Cutler]

The Supervisors in those counties did not force Foley to resign, nor did they chose Negron to replace him. It should be and is the SOLE responsibility of the Republican Party to educate those voters who plan on voting in that Congressional race, that a vote for Foley is a vote for Negron.

Go Mahoney!

[Adam Tebrugge]

The judge's opinion could not be clearer or more unassailable. Election law is very specific and the Judge had no choice but to uphold the will of the Legislature. If you don't like the law, petition your representative to change it. For whatever reason, the Legislature decided to not allow the names of replacement candidates to appear on the ballot. Nor are "educational" materials allowed in the polling booth. You may not like the specific outcome in this case but the law could not be clearer, nor the opinion more well reasoned.

The law is clear, and it was upheld. It's funny how the Republicans now want activist judges to rewrite the laws from the bench.

While the GOP is trying to undo everything that makes America the greatest country in the world, it is good to see that there are patriots that still believe in making our country great!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Repugs wanted to tilt the rules in their favor again and they were blocked again.

Republicans here have their underwear all in a twist because a judge has seen fit to enforce Florida election law AS WRITTEN. We all know if the shoe were on the other foot there's no way they would allow Democrats to post a substitution notice. The law may not be logical, but it is what it is and if the Republicans had a problem with it they could have changed it anytime in the last 8 years when they have been in total control of the state govt.

Those pesky LAWS! Why can't we just crown the Bush family king and get it over with??

Instead of using their money to fund these frivilous lawsuits, why don't the Republicans spend money telling voters to support their candidate? Oh wait - it's not their money. They are using the taxpayer's money to fund their partisan lawsuits.

In Simi Valley, Ronald Reagan is rolling in his grave. (It is Simi Valley, right? I just know it can't be Arlington. Reagan dodged the draft, remember?)

If the Democrats weren't so overrun with idiots I'd consider voting for some. I am not to happy with the way the Republicans have handled things..but there is no alternative...at least not presently

double standard as usual,kind of getting use to it, the dems can anyhting get away with everything in this very unfair, bias ,liberal world!!!!!!!!!

If the tables were turned there would be every big name sleezy Dem on every news show in America crying "foul". I guess everything is normal.

double standard as usual,kind of getting use to it, the dems can get away with everything in this very unfair, bias ,liberal world!!!!!!!!!

If the tables were turned there would be every big name sleezy Dem on every news show in America crying "foul". I guess everything is normal.

[ian]

Give me a break. What person in the state of Florida does not know Foley is out? all this publicity about his replacement is enough information. I knew most republicas were stupid but this is too much, they just follow the leader and look where it's gotten us. Just obey the law as is or change the law

Proof GOP can't cheat their way through everything. If they really believe voters are informed, than they should know that Negron is replacing the pedophile GOP Congressman Foley. I love angry uptight uninformed republican ranters.

[Gene Smith]

I expect at any moment to see a gang of Rethug Capitol Hill staffers staking out this judge's office with baseball bats in their hands.

Next they'll be at the polls accosting every one coming in telling them a vote for Foley is not a vote for a pervert.

Do you think they're sorry they moved the line back to 100 feet from the 50 feet it was last cycle?

Joe who? oh yeah, Mark Foley's guy.

Yeah folks, my dear Republican voters - thank your legislators - the ones controlling FL Congress & Cabinet for that law.

And don't forget, Markie Foley wanted to retire and become a lobbyist - it was your (republican leadership in DC) that didn't allow it and his name went on the ballot - knowing his "thing" for young white hot American teenage boys.

Didn't they post notice when Jim Stork quit the race and Robin whats her name was put on by the democrats to replace him?
now they don't want the R's to have the same treatment?
I thought it was what's good for the goose is good for the gander!

Foley = pedophile. Negron and the "R's" attempting to justify this replacement by running under this man's name is disguisting. Shame on you all and may your children never be placed in such as position.

This case will make it to Fl Supreme Court before election day. It's certainly not the same court that ignored state law in 2000.

[treehugger]

8:49
What legal issue do you think can be raised to appeal Judge Ferris' decision? Temporary insanity of the legislature when they changed the law?

Janet Ferris is a partisan democrat who was Secretary of DPR in the Lawton Chiles administration. She should have reclused herself from this decision. Shame on her.

9:32: Why, so a partisan Republican judge could allow for these taxpayer paid political advertisements in each voting booth? Let us not forget it was Bush who changed the make-up of the judicial nominating commissions to ensure Bush judges were 100% partisan.

8:32 - no, when Stork had to drop out and Rorapaugh replaced him, not only were there no signs informing voters that a vote for Stork was a vote for Rorapaugh, but then we didn't have the state spending our tax dollars trying to electioneer for the Democrats. Of course in this case, two years later and one district over, it's the GOP who had to replace a candidate at the last minute, so NOW the state wants to electioneer on his behalf.

Hypocrisy, thy name is GOP...

If Foley was a democrat he would not have resigned and you would be praising him for perserving in this country with the strong hate toward homosexuality. Yes he is an idiot for claiming alcholism and is hurting the GOP by blaming everyone but himself. Voters are idiots and that will help, they will vote for Foley just because they know the name same reason they vote yes on all amendments with no clue of what they are doing. The will of the people is stupidity on election day so who cares if Negron's name is posted if Foley had not resigned he would win re-election.