Harvard Law School Pro Bono Program
Advise Third-Party Voter Registration Organizations
Support efforts to engage and register voters in Florida
Posted July 12, 2024
Background & Context
Over the past several years, several Florida laws have passed, restricting third-party voter registration organizations that encourage people to register to vote and help them do so. Most recently, SB 7050 placed severe limits on these organizations, including fines of up to $250,000 annually for failure to comply.
Immediate Problem
Legal challenges to these restrictions are still pending in courts, contributing to a confusing and shifting legal picture for voter registration organizations. This uncertainty, combined with the large potential fines, is chilling voter registration programs and activities -- including those run by experienced and well-established organizations.
This chilling effect will have consequences for the ability of eligible voters to exercise their right to vote, and in particular for the right of people of color to vote in Florida.
Work & Deliverables
The Harvard Law School Election Law Clinic is working with leading organizations such as All Voting is Local in Florida to coordinate legal support for third-party voter registration organizations.
We will provide basic training on the current state of Florida law regarding third-party voter registration, as well as periodic updates when legal developments occur.
As voter registration organizations request assistance, we will pair them with volunteer lawyers. These volunteer lawyers will work with organizations to help them structure voter registration programs and activities that comply with the law and limit their exposure to fines and fees. Lawyer assignments will be based on demand from third-party voter registration organizations, who will also participate in selecting volunteers they wish to work with.
At this stage, lawyers in this project will not be asked to provide advice or representation for organizations facing or challenging fines or fees.
Harvard Law School Pro Bono Program
The HLS Pro Bono Program allows students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of licensed attorneys starting their 1L year. With the opportunity to do volunteer pro bono work in HLS’s 11 Student Practice Organizations (SPOs), on an individual basis with a law firm, nonprofit or government entity, or an HLS faculty member who is licensed to practice, or on an HLS spring break pro bono trip, students have the ability to make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to the public good. Students doing pro bono work may receive credit towards HLS’s 50 hours pro bono graduation requirement.
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Harvard Law School Pro Bono Program
The HLS Pro Bono Program allows students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of licensed attorneys starting their 1L year. With the opportunity to do volunteer pro bono work in HLS’s 11 Student Practice Organizations (SPOs), on an individual basis with a law firm, nonprofit or government entity, or an HLS faculty member who is licensed to practice, or on an HLS spring break pro bono trip, students have the ability to make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to the public good. Students doing pro bono work may receive credit towards HLS’s 50 hours pro bono graduation requirement.