A Florida legislator has launched a campaign across the state to get more Black and Afro-Latino people to vote by mail to circumvent new laws that can disproportionately restrict voters of color.
The initiative, led by Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones said the goal of Operation BlackOut is to enroll 40,000 “nontraditional” voters of color in voting by mail this year. The effort comes after the enactment last year of Senate Bill 90, a law that restricts voting by mail, and months ahead of midterm elections in November.
Operation BlackOut targets voters of color in rural areas and nontraditional voters, meaning people who do not vote or are less likely to vote in midterm elections. He said it is an effort to keep voters engaged in the electoral process outside of presidential elections.
