Filed Date: Oct. 11, 2016
Closed Date: Oct. 12, 2016
Clearinghouse coding complete
On October 11, 2016, League of Women Voters of Florida filed its Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief under the National Voter Registration Act, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988 against the Governor of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Florida (the “Defendants”). Plaintiff sought a preliminary injunction in the US District Court of the Northern District of Florida requiring Defendants to accept delivery of voter registration applications until at least October 18, 2016, in order to account for lost registration time, including a weekend, in the state of Florida prior to a presidential election. The case was assigned to Judge Mark Eaton Walker.
On October 6, six days before the state’s voter registration deadline, Florida residents were urged to evacuate by the Governor due to Hurricane Matthew hitting the state. 25 counties total were issued an evacuation order (mandatory or voluntary), over one million Florida residents were without power, and roads and bridges were destroyed or flooded. State and county offices, including places that are required by law to offer voter registration services, in 43 of Florida’s 67 counties were shut down. The US Postal Service suspended operations in most of the areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. October 11, 2016 was set as the registration deadline, and voter registration was unavailable in numerous counties affected by Hurricane Matthew between Thursday, October 6th and the morning of Tuesday, October 11th.
To register in Florida, voters had to complete a paper registration application or the national mail-in voter registration form and deliver it by mail or in person to the certain government offices. There was no other way to register to vote (i.e. online).
Plaintiff had written to the Governor on October 7, 2016, requesting that due to the Hurricane and that Monday was Columbus Day, the registration deadline be extended at least under the end of the week to provide the full opportunity to register as provided in the National Voter Registration Act. The request (and other similar requests) was denied by the Governor.
On October 9, 2016, the Florida Democratic Party filed suit in the same court and sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, which was granted by the Court to extend the registration deadline to October 12.
The complaint alleged that by the Governor rejecting requests to extend the voter registration deadline, he denied Florida residents the full opportunity to register provided to them by Section 2 and Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act. Plaintiff also brought suit as an undue burden on the right to vote in violation of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. They also brought suit as disparate treatment in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The relief sought was a declaratory judgment and to provide preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.
The court granted the Motion for Preliminary Injunction/Temporary Restraining Order, and the deadline for registration to vote was extended until October 18, 2016. The deadline for submission of an Early Voting Plan was extended until October 17, 2016.
The case was closed in November 2016.
Summary Authors
Jenna Zendarski (10/11/2024)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4501402/parties/league-of-women-voters-of-florida-v-scott/
ABUDU, NANCY GBANA (Florida)
ATKINS, ROBERT A (Florida)
BERGLIN, KYLE THOMAS (Florida)
BERSE, FARRAH ROBYN (Florida)
BARDOS, ANDY V (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4501402/league-of-women-voters-of-florida-v-scott/
Last updated Oct. 28, 2025, 6:08 p.m.
State / Territory: Florida
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 11, 2016
Closing Date: Oct. 12, 2016
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
League of Women Voters of Florida
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 2016 - 2016
Issues
Affected Race(s):
Voting: