Williams represents Florida in Electoral College

Yesterday, state Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) proudly represented Florida as one of 29 Electoral College voters. He cast an enthusiastic ballot for U.S. President Barack Obama, who received 4,235,270 votes in the Sunshine State to Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s 4,162,081.

"As a fourth generation Floridian, it is an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of the National Electoral College and to have the opportunity to cast an official electoral vote to reelect President Obama," Williams said.

The Florida Democratic Party selected Williams to serve as an elector during its convention last summer. The official ceremony took place in the Florida Senate Chambers.

Williams used the event as an opportunity to discuss the need for election reforms in the state.

"As I cast my vote for the President of the United States of America, I do so with memories of many Floridians waiting in long lines to cast their vote during Early Voting and  on Election Day,” Williams said.  “Our state needs election reform and as a member of the House Ethics and Elections Committee it is my intent to work with Rep. Janet Cruz, Democratic Ranking Member,  Chairman Rep. Jim Boyd, and the committee members  to address these issues with a  bipartisan solution of which all Floridians can be proud."

Gov. Rick Scott attempted to suppress voter turnout in the 2012 presidential election by signing legislation to shorten the early voting period from 14 days to eight days and using a questionable purge list. He also authorized new restrictions on third-party registration groups which were blocked by the federal courts.