Senator attacks Florida's new election laws

Senator Bill Nelson is going to war against Florida's election law changes.

"This law will make it harder for people to vote," Nelson said. "We've got Americans fighting to protect democracy overseas, and here at home we're making people jump over hoops to cast a vote."

Last week, Nelson went before Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.

Among the many arguments Nelson brought before the committee was that early voting time has been cut from two weeks to eight days. The legislature says they're extending early voting hours, but Nelson says elections supervisors across Florida don't have the money in their budgets to pay overtime.

Nelson also says third party groups like the League of Women Voters won't hold registration drives because the penalties are now too high.

"A fine of up to $1,000 if [registration forms] are not turned in within 48 hours," says Nelson. The new law also indicates you will no longer be able to change your address at a poling site if you've moved and are now voting in a different county.

The state legislature claims this is all an effort to reduce voter fraud. Nelson warns we're setting up voters for the same lack of confidence they had during the 2000 election debacle.