The Florida Department of State is scheduled to launch its new online voter registration website on Sunday, October 1, 2017. According to state officials, RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, offers Florida residents another way to register to vote or update an existing registration. The website is touted as convenient, secure and easy-to-use. The website will go live as directed by the Florida Legislature in Section 97.0525 Florida Statutes.

In 2015, Governor Rick Scott signed into law a bill directing the department to implement online voter registration on October 1, 2017. Florida joins 35 other states and the District of Columbia that have online voter registration available to their residents.

Any Florida resident who is eligible to vote or is already registered to vote in Florida can use RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov to submit an application, update an existing registration or prefill an application form to print and deliver to a Supervisor of Elections office.

Contrary to current voter registration procedure, users will need a Florida driver license or state identification (ID) card and the last four digits of their social security number to register online. Currently, only one of the three is required to register to vote. Once an individual’s identity is verified and the application is deemed complete, a voter information card is issued by the local Supervisor of Elections office.

Investigations confirming Russian attempts to hack America’s elections have heightened concerns regarding potential manipulation of registration and voting data.
RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov proclaims multiple safeguards in place to verify and protect a person’s identity and personal information, including a state-of-the-art firewall, data encryption, captcha boxes, session time-out after inactivity and the use of multi-screens. The website requires information that only the person seeking to register or change an existing registration should know, such as the issue date of their Florida driver license or state ID card, their Florida driver license or state ID card number and the last four digits of their social security number. All of this information is verified in real-time in order for a person to complete the application process online. If the information cannot be verified, a person is not able to move forward with submitting the application electronically. Additionally, there is no retention of data within the RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov website because it is securely transmitted to an internal system.

RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is offered in English and Spanish, is accessible for persons with disabilities and is mobile-friendly.

If you choose to use this new system, feel free to share your experience at [email protected]. What’s most important is that you get out and vote. 

@vanessawbyers

A sense of community is missing in our neighborhoods and positive circulating economics is at the core. Be a part of the solution by changing behaviors. One Dollar, One person, One purchase at a time. B.E.E.F. (“Black Each and Every Friday”) addresses a needed change in behavior in the Black community. Starting with just one day a week support, build and invest in your community. There are quality products and services that exist in the black community that need and want your support. Visionaries in Jacksonville, Atlanta and Chicago have already started shifting the paradigm their communities. Join the #BeefN movement Miami. Make every Friday, Black Friday! 

Each and Every Friday - patronize a black business or service, then share the experience with friends, family and on social media. Use the following hashtags #BEEF #WeBeefN  #WeBeefNMiami #WeBeefNMIA or add to it the city you are reppin'.

#buyblack #blackeconomics #blackowned #blackunity #blacklove #changethegame #capitalism #blackpower #blacklivesmatter #blackdollarsmatter #Miami #MIA #Jax #ATL #CHI #shopblack #TGIF #motivation #inspiration #changetheworld #blackbusinessmatters 

On Jan. 17, 2004, Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, Jr. of Miami Gardens became the first documented South Florida soldier to be killed by anti-US insurgents in Iraq.

 @vanessawbyers

 As Polls Close in North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Ohio and Missouri, Election Protection Received Over 2,100 Calls

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - CIRCA 2015: A mural in Winston-Salem honors the history of the Civil Rights movement. With 'voting rights' being debated nationally, the mural has taken on renewed significance.  

Credit: MC Lewis / Shutterstock.com

Washington, D.C. – The nationwide nonpartisan Election Protection voter hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE received more 2,100 calls as voters in five states headed to the polls during March 15 presidential preference primaries as of 6 p.m. EDT. The hotline received a steady stream of calls throughout the day with voters seeking information and requesting assistance on a range of issues that resulted from poll worker misinformation, voter ID requirement implementation, long lines and last minute polling place changes.

“The hundreds of calls to 866-OUR-VOTE make clear that voters still continue to face barriers when seeking to exercise the right to vote,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The nature and sheer volume of complaints received from states such as North Carolina, Illinois and Florida demonstrate that much work remains to be done to improve access to the ballot box across our country."

Throughout the day, the majority of the calls came from North Carolina where the state’s restrictive voter ID law was in effect for the first time.

In North Carolina:  

Eligible voter encounters problem with voter ID requirement: 

A voter in Wake County only had a temporary driver’s license for today’s election. The poll worker at her polling location said she would have to cast a provisional ballot and it should count according to the state’s “reasonable impediment” law, but because the voter was not confident that her ballot would be counted, she returned home to get her passport which is a valid form of ID.  The voter has voted in the same precinct and polling location for the last 20 years and never had a problem casting a ballot.

Long-time voter not on voter roll at polling place where she has voted for last 30 years:

A woman in Durham County went to her polling place where she has voted for the past 30 years, but a poll worker could not find her on the voter rolls. After searching the voter rolls several times and then asking the chief judge for help, the poll worker offered the voter a provisional ballot. The voter did not want to vote provisionally and went to the Board of Elections where she waited in line for another 45 minutes before she was able to cast a regular ballot. Upon contacting Election Protection, a volunteer was also able to verify her voter registration status and noted that she has voted in 62 previous elections. The voter indicated she was concerned for other voters who may not have had the time or resources to follow up in the way she did to ensure that they cast a ballot that counts.

Election Protection Helps 93-Year-Old Voter to Cast a Ballot:

A 93-year-old voter was initially denied a ballot after attempting to vote with an expired ID. Both a Democracy NC poll monitor and Election Protection hotline volunteer informed her of her right to vote with the ID.  Armed with this information, she went back to the polling place, informed the poll workers that she should be allowed to vote with an expired ID (as she is over the age of 70), and was allowed to cast her vote.

No notification of last minute polling place location:

At North Carolina Central University the polling place was moved from the student union to the law school. This change was not reflected on the Durham County Board of Elections website for most of the day, and no signs were present indicating the change and directing voters to the new location. An Election Protection volunteer created a sign to inform voters of the move and redirected over 100 people to the new polling location.  Many of the voters were elderly and had trouble getting across campus, which included a steep hill. As of 4:15 p.m. EDT today, several hours after the opening of the polls, the Durham County Board of Elections appeared to have updated their website.

Lines Over an Hour Long in Wilmington:

Long lines were reported at the VFW polling location in Wilmington where voters were waiting over an hour to vote, many of whom were elderly. An Election Protection volunteer encouraged voters to stay in line but counted at least 17 people who left the polling location without casting a ballot.

In Florida: 

Malfunctioning electronic poll book issues:

In Orange County, a voter called 866-OUR-VOTE to report that the electronic poll books used to look up voters were malfunctioning, causing delays in checking in voters as they arrived at the polling site. The problem resulted in a long line and although the voter was able to wait and vote, the voter reported that other voters left the line and polling place without voting.

Long Lines Impact Elderly Voters:

Another voter in Volusia County called 866-OUR-VOTE to report long lines at his polling location. Voters were forced to wait at least an hour, including many senior citizens who left because they could not stand and wait that long. Election Protection reported the issue to the county board of elections.

In Illinois:

Voter Denied Opportunity to Register to Vote at Polling Site in Accordance with Law: 

Despite the fact that Election Day Registration should be available to voters at all polling locations in counties with a population of over 100,000, a McHenry County voter who needed to register reported that the supervisor at his polling location directed him to another location but did not provide the address. The Illinois State Board Elections in Chicago confirmed that McHenry County should have Election Day Registration at all polling places allowing voters to register at the polling site. McHenry County officials were called numerous times but were not reachable to address the issue.

17-Year-Old Eligible to Vote Turned Away at the Polls:

In Chicago, a 17-year-old voter who will turn 18 next week reported that she tried to register at her polling location, but the electronic form would not allow her to register because she is 17. The voter was not offered a provisional ballot and left the polling location without casting a ballot. The Chicago Board of Elections reported that her ballot would have been counted.

Election Protection Helps Student Voters at Wheaton College:

A student went to vote at a polling location near Wheaton College and was turned away by a poll worker. The voter had his student ID and driver’s license, but the poll worker incorrectly informed the voter that college students need to provide another form of ID with the college’s mailing address. Election Protection contacted a deputy registrar with the DuPage County Election Commission, who informed the poll worker that college students are allowed to vote in this election with a driver's license and a student ID. The student returned to the polling location and was able to vote but noted 15 to 20 of his fellow students had left the polling location without voting.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Check out the news reported by Ch. 10’s Bob Norman regarding racist memorabilia on the walls at Sal’s Towing in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Norman goes on to state that Sal’s Towing is contracted by the City of Fort Lauderdale and other governmental entities.

It’s interesting to note that a black male former employee reported the racist memorabilia and even was subjected to racial slurs. Another black male employee initially defended the business, go figure. Why anyone would allow themselves to be subjected to such treatment in this day and age is downright sad. It’s 2016, and this level of discrimination still exists. Some white people don’t believe it or don’t want to believe it or are in denial. Some black people don’t believe it or don’t want to believe it or are in denial.

As expected, after denying being racist, the owner, Sal Belasai, eventually indicated the signs would be removed. That’s a step in the right direction but is removing the signs is supposed to make everything alright? I don’t think so. Sal’s supporters defend him by citing his service to the community. Really? I don’t think so.

Sal’s accuser has also been targeted. He was arrested for violently abusing a girlfriend. That still doesn’t change the fact that the racist signs were posted in Sal's place of business. Stay focused.

I have a couple of questions. How long has the memorabilia been on display at Sal’s? How many people, black and white, have seen it and done nothing about it? This is the sad reality of post-racial America.

By the way, Sal indicated the memorabilia is black history, in a way he’s correct. Check out this video on the history of the term ‘gator bait’. Get a better understanding why everyone should be mortified and disgusted these signs would be on display in a place of business in the United States.

 @vbyers

#racism #thestruggleisreal #gatorbait #blackhistory

A critical town hall meeting will be held this evening regarding the treatment of girls of color by school resource officers (SROs). Too many of us have already forgotten the shocking video of SRO Ben Fields body-slamming a black female student to the floor at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC last year.  Incidents such as this happen to Black girls and Latinas more than many of us realize. We focus on boys but let’s not forget the girls. Don’t miss this important conversation with Dr. Monique W. Morris, educator and author of PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.

Monique W. Morris, EdD

This activity is presented by the Georgetown University Center on Poverty and Inequality and the National Black Women's Justice Institute. Parents, students, teachers, school resource officers and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Click here to RSVP.

Raw. Explicit language. Real. Powerful. Covers a lot of subjects. The Field: Miami. The Miami people don't see. 

Related Link: 

You’ll Never Look At Miami The Same After Worldstar’s New ‘Field’ Documentary

- National Infant Mortality Awareness Month event to be held Saturday, September 17^th -

MIAMI – Despite a statewide decrease in deaths among children younger than one year old, the infant mortality rate in Miami-Dade County has creeped upward, especially in black and Hispanic communities.  Aimed at reversing this alarming increase, Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) will host The Community Health & Education Fair. The event takes place Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Community Center, 3000 N.W. 199^TH Street, in Miami Gardens, FL. The fair will equip women with intensive education and tools as they learn to care for themselves, infants and toddlers up to age five. A special program will begin at 11 a.m., when elected officials and community leaders will pledge commitment to supporting HSCMD’s services for local mothers and children.

Special Message from CIVIC Concern

SB 736 -- This year's version of SB 6

A modified version of last year's SB 6, this legislation is another misguided effort at reform.  It would require 50% of teachers' annual evaluations to be based on their students' standardized tests scores, making Florida the first state in the nation to tie teacher pay, retention, and even certification so closely to students' scores on standardized tests. This experiment will lead to our classrooms becoming little more than test-prep centers where our children aren't taught to think, just to pass a test. Click here to learn all about the details of the legislation in this CIVIC article.

Last year, thousands of parents, teachers and other Floridians joined together in opposition to this proposal, leading to the veto of the bill.  More than 30,000 people signed CIVIC's letter to state officials in just a matter of weeks.  It will take an even louder public outcry to stop it this year.  Please sign this letter opposing SB 736. 
Share it with your friends via email and Facebook.  Let's see if this time we can reach 100,000.

Photo: Courtesy of Alina Diaz

MIAMI, Fl – For a closer view of Miami’s African American historical sites, Miami-Dade Transit is once again offering its annual Black History Transit Tour on two consecutive Saturdays, February 19th and 26th.  The tours will leave from the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, located at 111 NW 1st Street in downtown Miami, beginning at half hour intervals between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.  No reservations are being taken and tours are on a first-come, first-served based.

The Black Affairs Advisory Board’s Heritage Planning Committee has teamed with Miami-Dade Transit to offer a “Black History Extravaganza” tomorrow February 19th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the African American Cultural Arts Center, located at 6161 NW 22nd Avenue that will feature a “Line Dance” stepping competition, entertainment, food and cultural vendors.

Miami-Dade Transit's award-winning Black History Tours feature sites that once reflected the prosperity and independence of Miami's black community. The free tours reveal a time when black celebrities like Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Marian Anderson and Billie Holiday performed but could not sleep in Miami Beach, so they stayed in Overtown hotels and entertained blacks in Overtown nightclubs at late-late shows. When the stars tired of Overtown, they escaped to Georgette's Tea Room in Brownsville, where the legendary Billie Holiday once kept a permanent room.

For details, call (305) 375-4606 or for a complete schedule of Black History Month activities, visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/baab.