JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Voting machines were tested and poll workers are preparing for Saturday, the first day of early voting. Last year, early voting would have started five days early on Monday.
"There is a deliberate attempt to suppress the African American vote," said Congress woman Corrine Brown during a press conference about a federal lawsuit she filed Friday.
New election laws cut early voting days down from 14 to 8, even though the number of voting hours stayed the same. Brown says that hurts a lot of minority voters who need the extra days.
"From an election stand point, we will proceed with the state law," said Duval Supervisor of Elections, Jerry Holland.
The state court has not ruled on the case yet, but Holland says Duval County is prepared if they do. "In the primary voting, we have 12 early voting sites and 10 will be in libraries. We alerted them to make sure there isn't a conflict."
Holland says poll workers are also ready to work extra hours if the state rules to add more days. "It's convenient. You get plenty of time. There's no hurry," said Michael Cary.
Michael always casts his ballot early, and he says these changes or any that may come because of Brown's lawsuit won't keep him from voting.
"We want to reinstate early voting and we want it now," said Brown.
"I understand she wants more time to vote early, and I think the more the better," said Cary. If nothing changes, the last day to vote early will be August 11th.
