<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>New restrictions were put on petition gatherers earlier this year, including a requirement they register with the Department of State, but the registration page on the agency\u2019s website has been down for nearly a week.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The state reports it\u2019s working to get the site back online.<\/div>\n<div>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-55336 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000001\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000001-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000001-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000001-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000001.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000005\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000005-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000005-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000005-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000005.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>The law was widely opposed by those who have worked to put initiatives on the ballot like Aliki Moncrief with the Florida Conservation Voters.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cIf this law had been in place when we were trying to get signatures to put water and land funding on the ballot I don’t think we would have made it,\u201d said Moncrief.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Moncrief said because the registration site has been brought down for maintenance it\u2019s created another hurdle for paid petition gatherers.<\/div>\n<div>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-55336 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000004\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000004-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000004-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000004-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000004.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000007\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000007-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000007-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000007-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000007.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000006\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000006-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000006-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000006-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000006.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>The Department of State said the maintenance is due in part to the short timeframe it was given to develop the site.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThe petition process is important, and we are doing everything in our means to ensure the process continues as smoothly as possible.\u00a0The Department of State is aware that there are operational issues with the Division of Elections Paid Petition Circulator website.\u00a0We do not have any reason to believe that these operational issues are the result of external system intrusions,\u201d said Secretary of State Laurel\u00a0Lee in an email statement.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Even before site went down there were numerous reports of the site not working properly.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cIf they’re going to pass a terrible bill like this at the least the system can be operational on day one,\u201d said Moncrief.<\/div>\n<div>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-55336 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000009\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000009-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000009-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000009-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000009.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000008\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000008-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000008-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000008-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000008.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/petition-signatures00000011\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000011-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000011-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000011-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/petition-signatures00000011.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>Some groups have suggested it\u2019s intentional, but Rep. James Grant who originally sponsored the legislation denies those allegations.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI don’t think anyone had an intent or even an expectation that some of the antiquated servers and challenges would lead to this problem, but I can promise you that both the Secretary and I are committed to making sure we get it right,\u201d said Grant.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Moncrief said intentional or not, lawmakers should have had more foresight.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cBefore lawmakers press the button and make a bill effective perhaps they should do some planning to make sure that we don’t run across problems like this,\u201d said Moncrief.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Representative Grant said in addition to the website, he\u2019s concerned some are intentionally disobeying the registration requirements.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>He said he\u2019s hyper focused on addressing both issues.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The Department of State says it\u2019s contacted sponsors of ballot initiatives to inform them of alternative ways to register, but when we asked for an explanation of what those alternatives are, we didn\u2019t receive a response.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New restrictions were put on petition gatherers earlier this year, including a requirement they register with the Department of State, but the registration page on the agency\u2019s website has been down for nearly a week. The state reports it\u2019s working to get the site back online. The law was widely opposed by those who have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55336"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/132"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55337,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55336\/revisions\/55337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}