Florida will allow its residents to register to vote through Wednesday after a federal judge ordered the state to extend the deadline because of Hurricane Matthew.
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker said the one-day extension was necessary.
"It has been suggested that the issue of extending the voter registration deadline is about politics. Poppycock," Walker wrote. "This case is about the right of aspiring eligible voters to register and to have their votes counted. Nothing could be more fundamental to our democracy."
Gov. Rick Scott said last week he would not extend the deadline despite the hurricane, saying residents had plenty of time to become registered voters before the Nov. 8 election.
"Everybody has had a lot of time to register," said Scott, a Republican. "On top of that, we have lots of opportunities to vote: early voting, absentee voting, Election Day. So I don't intend to make any changes."
Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Allison Tant was pleased with Walker's decision.
"We are thrilled with today's ruling and we look forward to making our case on Wednesday for extending the voter registration deadline to October 18," Tant said, reports the Orlando Sentinel. "This is a win for the people of Florida."
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