Florida must seek court preapproval to change some voting laws, judge rules

Federal judge Mark Walker says state's discrimination against Black voters warrants extraordinary oversight

Florida cannot change certain voting laws without getting preapproval from a federal court for the next decade, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, saying the state has an ongoing and extensive history of discrimination against non-white voters that warranted extraordinary oversight.

US district judge Mark Walker put the state back under preclearance on Thursday as part of a 288-page ruling striking down new voting restrictions in Florida limiting the availability of drop boxes, and making it more difficult for third-party groups to register voters. Florida has repeatedly, recently, and persistently acted to deny Black Floridians access to the franchise," he wrote in his opinion.