On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker announced Florida's voter registration deadline will be pushed back one week, to Tuesday, Oct. 18, overruling Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), who had refused to push the deadline. Walker had already extended the deadline by one day, to Oct. 12 from Oct. 11, but his announcement Wednesday tacked on another six days.
The move comes after Florida was battered by Hurricane Matthew late last week; the threat from the storm had prompted Scott to urge more than 1 million residents to evacuate certain areas along the state's east coast, a directive that Florida Democrats argued may have impeded their ability to register to vote.
"No right is more precious than having a voice in our elections," Walker said Wednesday, during a hearing in Tallahassee. Scott had originally denied Florida Democrats' initial request for an extension, prompting the Florida Democratic Party to turn to Walker.
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Scott had argued people already had enough time to vote ahead of the slated Tuesday deadline, which arrived just days after Hurricane Matthew hit the Sunshine State. Scott's spokeswoman said he will accept the court's revised deadline.
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