Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 7-27-18

Features
Judge Strikes DownBlocking Early Voting On College Campuses
Organization To Host Annual Back To School Event
Deadline Near To Apply For Hillsborough County Neighborhood Mini-Grants
Associations may apply for up to $5,000 for projects.
Time is drawing to a close for neighborhood associations to submit applications for Hills- borough County’s popular neighborhood mini-grants program.
The deadline to apply is 5 p. m. on Friday, Aug. 3.
Applicants also must attend a required training session before submitting an application.
The last such session is scheduled Monday, July 30, at 6 p.m., at Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Tuesday, a U. S. District judge ruled that blocking early voting on college and university campuses is unconstitutional. U. S. District Judge Mark Walker said elected officials showed “a stark pattern of dis- crimination.”
Judge Walker issued the preliminary injunction and gave Secretary of State Ken Det- zner until Friday to respond.
Judge Walker also directed Detzner to inform the Supervi- sor of Elections Office in all 67 Florida campuses that they can use buildings on college and university campuses for early voting this fall.
Judge Walker ruled that a 2014 state opinion that prohib- ited early voting on the cam- puses of higher learning violates three amendments to the U. S. Constitution.
The law came into existence in 2012. In 2013, it was ex- panded to define early voting sites to include “government- owned and community cen- ters.”
In his 40-page ruling, Judge Walker addressed the fact in 2016 more than 800,000 students were enrolled at state colleges and universities. Also during that year, more than one fourth of the voters were under the age of 30 and that Early Vot- ing was popular among college students.
He said the current policy has the effect of creating “a second- ary class of voters” and it pre- vented college students from voting where they work, study and live.
“Simply put (the state)
opinion reveals a stark pattern of discrimination. ... It is unex- plainable on grounds other than age because it bears so heavily on younger voters than on all other voters. (The state’s) stated interests for the opinion (fol- lowing state law, avoiding park- ing issues, and minimizing on-campus disruption) reek of pretext,” Judge Walker wrote.
He further stated, “Throwing up roadblocks in front of younger voters does not re- motely serve the public interest. ... Abridging voting rights never does.”
The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of 6 current or former students at- tending the University of Florida and Florida State Uni- versity. It was supported by the Andrew Goodman Foundation and the League of Women Voters of Florida.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner was named as the de- fendant in the lawsuit.
Judge Walker’s ruling comes five weeks before the Florida Primary Election will take place on August 28th.
Ms. Patricia Brigham, President of The League of Women Voters of Florida said, “The court ruling demonstrates that making it easier for our students to vote truly matters.
“This is the right decision, at the right time, for our Demo- cratic process. With this deci- sion, we have an affirmation that making Early Voting acces- sible to all is part of a true democracy.
“We especially congratu- late the students who raised their voices for a fair democ- racy. These young leaders are a positive example to us all.”
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
As parents prepare for the upcoming school year, organ- izations in the community are getting ready as well. This weekend, the Rays Of Hope Community Outreach will host its annual Back To School Event.
The event will take place on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at the Rays Of Hope Ministry, 211 S. 22nd Street, Tampa, 33605. It will take place be- tween the hours of 12 noon and 2 p.m.
The students must be ac- companied by a parent or guardian and the supplies will be given as long as they last. The event is free and
HORACE DREW Rays Of Hope Community Outreach
open to the public.
Horace Drew, founder
of Rays of Hope Community
Outreach, said, “We are hav- ing the Rays Of Hope Out- reach Annual Back 2 School event come rain or shine. This year, we are hosting a book bag giveaway.”
Each year, the organiza- tion hosts this event to help provide some of the items children will need in the up- coming school year. It is also part of its mission to give back to the community.
In addition to the book bags, those in attendance will also receive food designated for anyone who attends the event.
For additional informa- tion or questions contact the church at (813) 374-0403, or Horace Drew at (813) 531- 5636.
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A