Florida university to get early voting site after judge strikes down ban

The University of Florida will offer an early voting site on its campus, weeks after a federal judge struck down a ban on college campuses being used for early voting.

Lawyer Marc Elias tweeted Friday that Alachua County, where the university is located, will host an early voting site on the campus for the 2018 general elections.

BREAKING: As a result of our litigation victory, Alachua County has just announced that there will be an early voting site on the University of Florida campus at the Reitz Union for the 2018 General Elections. A huge victory for voting rights, @prioritiesUSA, and @LWVFlorida.

— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) August 17, 2018

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The move comes after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker reversed the ban on college campuses in Florida last month, finding the measure was unconstitutional and created a “lopsided” burden for college students.

“Throwing up roadblocks in front of younger voters does not remotely serve the public interest,” Walker wrote in last month’s ruling. “Abridging voter rights never does.”

The League of Women Voters and some college students in May presented a legal challenge to the ban, which was put in place by Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner (R) in 2014.

Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton told The Tampa Bay Times at the time of the ruling last month that she would contact the University of Florida about early voting for the general election, but that it was too late to establish an early voting site for the Aug. 28 primaries.