Just this week, news circulated that former leaders of the Florida Republican Party have admitted that Florida's voting law was aimed at suppressing the vote this year during President Obama's reelection.
Democrats in the U.S. House are clamoring for a federal investigation.
Florida's voting law, which was passed by the GOP-controlled state House and Senate in 2011, has been seen by opponents as an effort to suppress the votes of minorities and young people, who were more likely to vote for President Obama.
Now, Democrats have statements from former and embattled GOP leaders in Florida that such accusations might be true.
As a result, a coalition of U.S. House Democrats, mostly from South Florida, are asking the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to launch an investigation into Florida's law.
A letter asking for the investigation was signed by U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, Kathy Castor of Tampa, Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, Frederica Wilson of Miami Gardens and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston," the Sun Sentinelreports.
“The law limited access to the polls for minorities, seniors and college students," they wrote. "In particular, it reduced the number of early voting days and imposed new restrictive regulations on voter registration groups. “In light of these allegations, we are extremely concerned over the integrity of this law and the justification for its implementation.”
Since the law's passage last year, parts of the law have been struck down in court. Others parts, such as the reduced early voting days, have seen slight changes.
The law has been the subject of documentaries and investigative magazine features in national magazines all over the country.
The federal government has taken an interest in the law, too. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has spoken out against the law and has advised courts to remove many of its provisions. Earlier this year, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida held a hearing in Tampa about the law and how it could affect minority voting.
State lawmakers, mostly Democrats, have also taken an interest in changing the voting law. However, the Florida House and Senate still have Republican majorities.
