FLORIDA DEMS ASK WHY IS VOTING IMPORTANT TO YOU? “Make your voice heard.  Tell Gov. Rick Scott what the right to vote means to you. We’ll deliver your stories to him, and urge Scott to stop the GOP’s assault on our voice and our vote… you can write your story down, upload a photo like the ones above or upload a video response”

Here’s what Florida voters are saying: 

“Because my ancestors died so I could have the right to vote. As a female and an African-American, I take this right very seriously.” — Joy Taylor of Orange County 

“I vote because I love my country.” — Thomas Filbert, Hillsborough County 

“The act of voting is the heart of a healthy democracy. Anything that limits, obstructs, or denies someones right to vote weakens our country “ — Tracy Tapp, Okaloosa County 

RICK SCOTT “DOUBLES DOWN” ON VOTER PURGE [Creative Loafing] “As anticipated, Florida Governor Rick Scott has responded to last week’s call by the Justice Department to stop its crackdown on non-citizens from the voting rolls, and not surprisingly, he’s not abiding by their request.“

Florida Defends Search for Ineligible Voters [New York Times] “Saying the state would not stop trying to scrub the rolls of ineligible voters, Florida’s election chief told the Department of Justice on Wednesday that Florida was not violating any laws.”

Leon Co. Elex Official: We’re not re-starting voter removal process [Orlando Sentinel] “Leon County election supervisor Ion Sancho went on MSNBC this evening telling program host Al Sharpton that despite the Scott administration’s decision to continue on with its removal of ‘non-citizens’ from the voter rolls, it won’t happen.”

Florida Election Laws: Feds Talk Straight [Lakeland Ledger Editorial] “Both the temporary restraining order and the Justice Department’s intervention are welcome developments. The Republican strategy to solidify its hold on political power in Florida is as blatant as it is undemocratic.”

Orange voters react angrily to request for new signature [Orlando Sentinel] “She and others say they are feeling protective about their rights in the wake of the state’s just-suspended effort to purge more than 2,600 voters as “noncitizens,” an identification that in many cases was based on wrong or out-of-date information. Only a handful of these voters have acknowledged they are not citizens… [the SOE] acknowledged that his effort to seek fresh signatures is tied to the new law, which requires closer scrutiny of absentee ballots.” 

Returns shaky for state [Palm Beach Post Editorial] “If Florida truly wants to rid the voter rolls of noncitizens, the state is doing so in the worst way. Late, rushed and flawed are three appropriate adjectives, but the best one may be combative, because the state’s my-way-or-the-highway approach has created a nationally watched confrontation with two federal agencies, the 67 election supervisors and a litany of advocacy groups” 

Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” takes on Florida voting Thursday  [Orlando Sentinel] “Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” is taking on voting rights in Florida during a segment scheduled to air Thursday night.” 

ROCK THE VOTE & LEAGUE RETURN TO THE STREETS League of Women Voters to restart registration drive after judge tosses Legislature’s restrictions [Tampa Bay Times] “Berglund and her civic-minded colleagues gathered in front of a Pinellas elections office Wednesday to announce they are getting back in the game. “

League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote get back to work in Florida [Palm Beach Post] “After a federal judge last week blocked portions of a controversial new election law signed by Gov. Rick Scott last year, the League of Women Voters of Florida and Rock the Vote will get back to work registering voters, the groups announced Wednesday.”

OFA WELCOMES LEW, ANTHONY Obama campaign ramps up South Florida Jewish outreach with Lew visit [Miami Herald] “President Obama’s chief of staff, Jack Lew, is in South Florida today to participate in the campaign’s Jewish community outreach, the campaign says”

Marc Anthony to headline Miami Beach fundraiser for Barack Obama, cuts web ad [Miami Herald] “In the battle for the Hispanic vote, it’s tough to top this Barack Obama fundraiser: a June 26th performance by pop star Marc Anthony at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.”

New Obama ad in Florida focuses on jobs [Tampa Bay Times] “A new ad from the Obama campaign that will run in Florida as well as Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.” WATCH “JOBS” HERE

WE THOUGHT THE VOTERS DECIDED PRIMARIES Relax Florida Voters, Mack Campaign Has Decided Primary On Your Behalf [Florida Political Press] “So there you have it voters.  No need to continue with this messy process known as a primary, Connie Mack and the power structure of the Republican Party have simplified the whole process by making the decision for you.”

LWV VP GOODMAN TAKES ON HAGER League of Women Voters VP to challenge Rep. Hager [Palm Beach Post] “Florida League of Women Voters VP Pamela Goodman has decided to run as a Democrat against state Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, in a coastal district where Republican and Democratic registrations are fairly evenly split.”

OTHER NEWS WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

I BLAME JIM GREER Florida tops in public corruption [Palm Beach Post] “The report concluded that Florida had 781 public corruption convictions between 2000 and 2010, tops in the nation. California and Texas were close behind, with New York fourth. “

Romney’s “Struggling to Gain Traction” With Hispanics [FLDemocracy2012] “State Rep. Darren Soto (D-Orlando) said the candidate’s Hispanic committee is the latest sign that Romney’s effort to win over the state’s diverse Latino population will be unsuccessful. ‘It’s clear Mitt Romney is struggling to gain traction among the broader Hispanic community because his agenda is pulled straight from the failed GOP playbook that continues to ignore the needs of our people,’ Soto said. ‘It’s President Obama’s policies which are helping middle class families and are resonating with the Hispanic community in Florida.’”