naacp_web.jpgTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are among the groups asking the U.S. Justice Department to reject Florida's new election law.

Project Vote, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators also had filed objections through Monday.

Justice Department preclearance is required because of past voter discrimination in five of Florida's 67 counties.

Opponents say the new law discriminates against black voters by reducing the number of early voting days from 14 to eight. They submitted studies showing a larger proportion of blacks than whites vote early.

 

They also object to a provision making it more difficult for groups such as the League of Women Voters and Boy Scouts to conduct voter registration drives.