Lawmakers and Civil Rights Organizations Announce Revised and Expanded Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act for 2026
- Equal Ground
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2026
CONTACT
Christopher Miller
Office of Senator LaVon Bracy Davis
[850] 487-5015
Jerry Owens Jr.
Office of Representative RaShon Young
[850] 717-5040
Lawmakers and Civil Rights Organizations Announce Revised and Expanded Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act for 2026
As threats to our democracy mount, legislators offer an alternative vision for making Florida’s elections safe, secure, and accessible
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 9, 2026) - Florida Senator LaVon Bracy Davis (D-Ocoee) and Representative RaShon Young (D-Orlando) announced today the filing of the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act (SB 1598/ HB 1419).
This marks the third consecutive year members of the Florida legislature have introduced the landmark legislation. Senator Bracy Davis previously carried the bill during her tenure in the Florida House, and Rep. Young, elected in September 2025, joins her this year as the House sponsor.
If passed, the Florida Voting Rights Act would make the Sunshine State one of the most voter-friendly states in the nation. It will ensure that voter registration and participation are accessible, transparent, and secure before, during, and after Election Day.
Key provisions of the bill include:
Preclearance Protections to ensure changes made to the voting process at the local level are thoroughly vetted
Automatic registration for eligible Floridians to vote when they interact with DHSMV unless they opt out
A centralized database for returning citizens to determine voter eligibility
Permanent Vote by Mail Requests
Expanded Language Access
Allows eligible voters to register to vote at any time, up to and including Election Day
“For too long in Florida, we have watched politicians rig the rules, silence communities, and manipulate our elections to cling to power. The Florida Voting Rights Act is our answer to that: bold, clear, and rooted in justice,” said Senator Bracy Davis. “This bill is about protecting Black voters, working families, young people, language minorities, and returning citizens who have been deliberately targeted and shut out of the democratic process. That is exactly why we are naming this legislation after Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, because their lives and legacy represent the cost of fighting for the right to vote and the courage it takes to demand equality. They gave their lives so we could have a voice, and I refuse to let that sacrifice be erased by voter suppression. Democracy is strongest when everyone is heard, and that is exactly what this legislation fights for.”
“This legislation is about common-sense voting policy and ensuring every eligible Floridian, regardless of race, zip code, language, or background, has meaningful access to the ballot box,” said Rep. RaShon Young. “Democracy is strongest when participation is fair, secure, and accessible to all. Naming this legislation after Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore honors their courage and sacrifice in the fight for voting rights, and it also honors the legacy of Senator Geraldine Thompson, who devoted her life to preserving Black history in Florida and reminding us that progress must be protected. This bill is about honoring that history while building a democracy that works for everyone, now and for generations to come.”
This legislation also repeals harmful, recently passed anti-voter laws that have created deliberate barriers to voting at every step of the process, including restrictions on secure drop boxes, restrictions on vote-by-mail, a ranked-choice voting ban, restrictions on election funding, and harsh penalties on organizations conducting community voter registration. The FLVRA also disbands the Office of Election Crimes & Security, the controversial office created in 2022 that has since served as a politicized weapon to intimidate Black voters from exercising their freedom to vote by arresting Floridians whom the State genuinely misinformed about their voting eligibility.
“Elections impact our daily lives and our votes give us a say. Voting is the most powerful tool to make democracy work for all citizens. We applaud the filing of the landmark Florida Voting Rights Act designed to ensure Florida will protect the right to vote and administer fair voting access. Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore were stalwart members of FL NAACP and lost their lives fighting valiantly against Jim Crow and for the right to vote. FL NAACP pledge our strong commitment to continue fighting for democracy and to implement the Florida Voting Rights Act,” said Donald Hart, president of NAACP Florida State Conference.
“After three years of inaction, the time is now to move the Florida Voting Rights Act forward. With our democracy under continued threat, we can no longer allow it to remain exposed and vulnerable. This legislation is essential to safeguarding the freedom to vote and protecting the future of our democracy. Our communities deserve a system that protects access to the ballot and ensures every voice is heard.” Genesis Robinson, Executive Director, Equal Ground Action Fund
“Floridians feel real pride in leading—not following—the nation on election policy,” said Amy Keith, Common Cause Florida Executive Director. “This is about the rights and the voices of eligible Florida voters. If Florida is truly going to be a leader, its people need to know that all eligible voters are heard when it comes to elections. Being the first in the Deep South to pass a state voting rights act sends a message that Florida still leads.”
“Voting rights are a fundamental human right, the foundation of a healthy democracy,” said Jonathan Webber, Florida policy director at the Southern Poverty Law Center. “By sponsoring this landmark state voting rights act, Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis and newly-elected Rep. RaShon Young are carrying forward the fight to safeguard access and ensure all eligible voters can participate.”
"Over 1.7 million Black voters call Florida home, and it's time those voters receive the long overdue foundational promise of our democracy: the ability to freely, fully, and fairly participate in our elections," said LDF Director of Policy Demetria McCain. "The Florida Voting Rights Act would go a long way to counteract both recent and historical efforts to diminish the voting power of Black Floridians and other voters of color. We strongly urge the Florida legislature to pass this bill and help march Florida down the path to becoming a more fair and free state that protects everyone’s right to vote.
“The Florida Voting Rights Act provides a window of opportunity for lawmakers to ensure that the voting system in Florida actually works for voters," said All Voting is Local Action Florida State Director Brad Ashwell. "As laws and policies continue to be put into place to restrict voters' rights across the Sunshine State, the Florida Voting Rights Act would allow for major improvements to the way our elections are run. Whether it’s automatic registration, permanent vote-by-mail status, or voting materials being made available in more languages, this bill includes key provisions that make sense for all Florida voters."
“The Florida Voting Rights Act is a powerful declaration that our democracy belongs to the people — not politicians who try to rig the system to accumulate and hold onto power. Our communities deserve fair representation and a recognition that our voices matter regardless of where we live,” said Moné Holder, Florida Rising’s Chief Advocacy & Political Officer. “Florida Rising stands with our legislative champions to ensure every voter, no matter their race or zip code, has an equal voice in shaping our future.”
"Sixty years ago, Americans fought to pass the Federal Voting Rights Act and built a pillar strong enough to support true participation in our democracy. It was built with sacrifice, cemented with blood, and designed to bear the weight of every citizen's rights,” said Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida. "Today, we're at a crossroads. Either we shore up this pillar by passing a Florida Voting Rights Act, or we sit on the sidelines as politicians chip away at our fundamental right to vote and weaken the power of the people to shape our democracy."
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