Swing state? The impact of twenty years of Florida Election law post-HAVA

Florida became a flashpoint for reforming election laws and procedures following the 2000 election cycle. Attempting to ameliorate the fiascos uncovered during the 2000 presidential election, Congress passed sweeping federal election reforms in 2002 via the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Since its passage, no new federal election laws as multifaceted as HAVA have been enacted-contributing to a pressurized environment within which election legislation is introduced in state houses throughout the U.S. This chapter investigates the evolution of election law in Florida twenty years post-HAVA. Presenting findings from a content analysis of elections-related legislation introduced in Florida since 2002, this chapter explores the evolving electoral climate in Florida and illuminates the social constructs underlying civil society and electoral anxiety in America.