TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida House Representative LaVon Bracy Davis (D-Orlando) and State Senator Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) announced today the filing of the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act (HB 1409, SB 1582). Senator Davis will proudly carry this legislation during the 2025 legislative session in honor of her friend and colleague, Senator Geraldine Thompson, who tragically passed away in February.
The landmark legislation will position Florida as a voter-friendly state – ensuring the registration and voting process for Floridians before, during, and after they fulfill their civic duty at the ballot box is accessible and straightforward. 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 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (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
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.
“I began carrying this legislation alongside Senator Geraldine Thompson because of her unwavering commitment to protecting the fundamental right to vote, and it is because of her that I continue this fight today,” said State Representative LaVon Bracy Davis. “Senator Thompson’s legacy is one of courage, conviction, and an unrelenting fight for justice. As we carry this legislation forward, we do so in her honor — and with a clear-eyed understanding that we are living in a time when the forces of disenfranchisement are not just present, they are prevailing. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act is our answer to those forces. We will not yield. We will protect the right to vote because our democracy depends on it, and because the best way to honor those who came before us is to finish the work they started.”
“Law-abiding, eligible citizens in good standing are not guaranteed their fundamental democratic right to vote in Florida,” said State Senator Tracie Davis. “Floridians deserve to have their vote counted and their voice heard – I am honored to carry on the legacy of civil rights leaders Harry and Harriette Moore, and my good friend, colleague, and soror Senator Geraldine Thompson by fighting to protect voting rights for all Floridians.”
“For our democracy to truly work, it must include all of us. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act is the kind of bold, transformative legislation our state and nation need at this critical moment,” said Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida. “We honor the legacy of civil rights giants like the Moores and the late Senator Geraldine F. Thompson by fighting to enshrine this bill into law. Our commitment is clear: we will not stop until we secure a democracy that works for everyone.”
“Equal Ground is proud to stand with our legislative champions and coalition partners in refiling the Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act. We move forward with State Senator Geraldine Thompson’s legacy in our hearts. Her dedication to voting rights and Black history shaped this legislation, and we remain committed to advancing the fight she so fiercely championed,” said Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground. “Now more than ever, we must protect our democracy and defend access to the ballot box. The Florida Voting Rights Act is a crucial step in ensuring every voter—regardless of race, background, or ZIP code—has an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy. We extend our deepest gratitude to Representative Bracy Davis for leading this bill once again in the House. We also thank Senator Tracie Davis for stepping up and lending her many years as an election administrator to this effort and carrying the bill in the Senate. Harry and Harriette Moore gave their lives fighting for voting rights, and we are committed to carrying the mantle forward.”
“The Florida Voting Rights Act is being introduced at a pivotal moment when state lawmakers are trying to chip away at voters’ rights through restrictive voting laws,” said All Voting is Local Action Florida State Director Brad Ashwell. “This bill is an opportunity for Florida to empower its voters with common sense changes like automatic registration, permanent vote-by-mail status, and voting materials being made available in more languages. The Florida Voting Rights Act would also add much needed protections against discriminatory voting practices and policies. Florida voters deserve to be protected by this voting rights act because they deserve to live in a state where lawmakers will fight for their voting rights and not actively try to take them away.”
“Voting rights are fundamental human rights that must be safeguarded to uphold America's core values of equality, justice and liberty for all,” said Jonathan Webber, Florida policy director at the Southern Poverty Law Center. “We honor the legacy of civil rights champions like Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore and the late Senator Geraldine Thompson, whose unwavering commitment to justice continues to inspire us. Today, leaders like Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis and Sen. Tracie Davis carry that fight forward by sponsoring this landmark state voting rights act. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to defending civil rights against any threats to democracy.”
“Voting is the hallmark of direct democracy. It is the very mission of the NAACP Florida State Conference to fight for and protect the right of all citizens to cast a ballot. Harry T. and Harriet V. Moore were part of the fabric of the NAACP and lost their lives due to their strong commitment to the right to vote. We honor the Moores and the late Senator Geraldine Thompson by standing up for the Florida Voting Rights Act and fighting until we win. We express great appreciation to Sen. Tracie Davis and Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis for sponsoring this critical legislation and for their devotion to civil rights and justice for all,” said Adora Obi Nweze, President of the NAACP Florida State Conference.
“The Florida Voting Rights Act is a powerful declaration that our democracy belongs to the people — not politicians who manipulate the rules to silence us. Black and Brown Floridians have fought too hard for the right to vote just to see it stripped away by deliberate, oppressive policies, said Moné Holder, Florida Rising’s Chief Political & Advocacy Officer. “This legislation restores the power to the people and dismantles barriers to the ballot box. 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.”
