{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023023/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349158&", "Officials continue mulling state's voting directive", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Officials continue mulling state's voting directive                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Senator seeks Justice Department review \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDecember 5, 2013\n\t\t\t\t\n                \n\t\t\t\t  \t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0ORLANDO \u2013 Some of Florida\u2019s county elections chiefs met informally here today in part to discuss a recent Tallahassee directive that could force them to eliminate remote drop boxes for voters\u2019 absentee ballots. \u00a0One of those officials afterward is to meet with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the lawmaker\u2019s Orlando regional office.    \t\u00a0    \tNelson (D-FL) is in Florida this week and meeting with several of Florida\u2019s local elections supervisors regarding the potential impact of the new directive. \u00a0He wants to know if it violates any federal election laws. \u00a0And just today, he asked the Justice Department in a letter to review the state\u2019s move.    \t\u00a0    \tThe directive, issued last week by Secretary of State Ken Detzner, would require voters to return their completed absentee ballots to their county\u2019s supervisors of election main offices only \u2013 thus eliminating the use by many local supervisors of the so-called remote drop-off locations. \u00a0Since being issued, Detzner\u2019s directive has caused a furor among county elections officials with some outright declaring they would defy the order.\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tOne of the supervisors who opposes the directive is Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles who is scheduled to meet with Nelson this afternoon.    \t\u00a0    \tFor Nelson\u2019s part, he\u2019s been outspoken in his criticism of the state's handling of so-called election reforms, since the Legislature passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed a law to reduce early voting hours prior to the 2012 presidential election. \u00a0 Nelson also took issue with the governor last year when there were long lines at the polls and Scott refused to extend early voting hours.\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tEarlier this year, Nelson filed legislation with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to reduce the time voters have to wait in line to cast their ballot in upcoming election.    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tFollowing is the text of Nelson\u2019s letter to the Justice Department along with a background article on the issue:\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tUnited States Senate    \tWashington, D.C. \u00a020510    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tDecember 5, 2013    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tUnited States Attorney General Eric Holder    \tUnited States Department of Justice\u00a0    \t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW    \tWashington DC 20530-0001    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tDear Attorney General Holder:    \t\u00a0    \tI\u2019m writing about a recent action taken by the Florida secretary of state regarding the return of absentee ballots.\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tOn November 25, Secretary of State Ken Detzner issued a directive to Florida\u2019s county supervisors of elections stating that they should never solicit the delivery of absentee ballots to any location other than supervisors\u2019 offices.\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tCounty elections officials in Florida are questioning the directive and at least one has raised questions about federal funds sent down to Florida as part of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA, P.L. 107-252). \u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tI am concerned about the impact this directive will have on citizens whose jobs, transportation or address, make it far easier for them to use mobile drop off locations. \u00a0The supervisors of election whom I have met with take very seriously their role to make not only secure but also accessible to all eligible Floridians.    \t\u00a0    \tI\u2019m asking for your review of this directive.    \t\u00a0    \tSincerely,    \t\u00a0    \t\u00a0    \tBill Nelson   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221023023/http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=349158&"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9096837602555752, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}