There are dark clouds on the horizon of the battleground state of Florida. New laws and tales of voter suppression efforts already have many voters nervous and confused. Florida, which was recently named “the most hostile state in the nation to new voters” by three national voting-rights groups, has significantly tightened voter identification laws and made it easier for voter’s rights to be challenged.

Two news laws passed by the Republican controlled legislature have many Democrats already crying foul. The first is the so-called “No match, no vote” law, which requires a match between a voter’s driver’s license or Social Security number and a government database- records which many say are full of errors. A second law allows citizens to challenge the legitimacy of fellow voters without proving their accusations. Instead, the challenged voter has two days to “justify his right to cast a ballot.”

Add this to a concerted effort to confuse many voters about their registration, as well as spread dangerous misinformation about the new laws, and there is a disaster brewing in Florida.

Much more, including a mailer sent out by McCain to democratic voters, after the jump…

There have been many confusing emails circulating about the new “No Match, No Vote” law, many claiming that if the voter’s address does not match the database, then they cannot vote. That, combined with reports that Republicans where getting foreclosure records in some states to challenge the validity of voter addresses, had many voters in a panic. The rumors became so pervasive that the Florida Secretary of State issued a media advisory to clarify exactly what the new law means:

I.D. Required and Checked at the Polls is Used Solely to Confirm the Voter’s Identity, Not to Verify the Voter’s ID Number or Address. “The photograph on the ID is compared to the person standing before the poll worker and the signature on the ID is compared to the signature on record.” [FL Department of State]

The voter confusion campaign seemed to be taken to the next level when many registered democrats began receiving “Party Affiliation Voter Registration Cards” from the Republican National Committee and the McCain Campaign saying they were registered as republicans.

A copy of the mailing obtained by National Public Radio shows that it includes an “official-looking card, listing the recipient’s name, address, congressional district, party affiliation and something called a voter ID number. In an attached letter, McCain asks recipients to update the enclosed card — and to contribute to his campaign.” You can view the complete mailings here.

A spokesperson for the RNC and the McCain Campaign said it was a “routine fundraiser” and that it was intended for Republicans. They also said the uproar over the mailing is “part of a national Democratic strategy to undermine confidence in Republicans.” Yet the mailing created such concern that the Republican supervisor of elections in Duval County, Jerry Holland, released a statement last week assuring residents that only a voter can change his or her own registration:

Whoever designed the piece obviously created something, knowingly or unknowingly, confusing to some voters, because obviously they were concerned that maybe someone had changed their party.

Once again the Republican Party is trying to steal the vote from Floridians. Confusing laws and misinformation campaigns- many with “McCain Campaign” proudly stamped on them- are once again seeking to disenfranchise voters and deliver the state into Republican hands by deceit and trickery.

These tactics could have an even greater effect on the LGBT community by helping suppress the democratic voter turnout which could lead to the passage of Florida’s Amendment 2, the dangerous (and Florida Republican Party funded) “Marriage Protection” Amendment.

I encourage everyone to go online, check your registration, and request an absentee ballot. Make sure your voice is heard. What happens in Florida has consequences for the entire nation- it could decide who will be our next President. We cannot allow another election to be stolen.

We all know from past disappointments that Florida can be an important factor in national politics. Everyone in the country is familiar with hanging chads, Teri Schiavo, and other issues that have catapulted the Sunshine State into the national spotlight. We’ve also seen the impact of Florida when it comes to LGBT issues- things like Anita Bryant, Mayor Naugle, adoption bans, and many other setbacks. But this year Florida has the chance to make a huge difference in both the Presidential race and the arena of LGBT rights.

The LGBT community in Florida is flexing its political muscle like never before this election cycle. Strong GLBT democratic groups like the Dolphin Democrats of Broward County in South Florida and the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus are organizing huge “Get Out The Vote” efforts for both Barack Obama and the fight against Amendment 2, the dangerous “Marriage Protection Amendment” that would not only ban same-sex marriage but also repeal domestic partnership registries with its vague, broad language.

Both efforts are leading to what many are predicting to be a record-breaking turnout in November.

With its 27 electoral votes, it is no surprise that the Obama campaign is focusing on Florida. They are pouring resources, over 200 staffers and dozens of campaign offices around the state, into Florida to turn out the voters for Obama. They are also working closely with local and state LGBT democratic groups, lending resources and volunteers in the fight against Amendment 2.

The excitement over Obama’s campaign and the fight against Amendment 2 are creating a surge of new membership and volunteers to many groups around the state. Both campaigns are feeding into each other, especially since Obama came out early to denounce Amendment 2 while John McCain has come out in support of it, further showing LGBT Floridians and their fair-minded allies the importance of working to get Obama elected.

Both campaigns could help each other make history in Florida. The Obama campaign is bringing in new voters, many younger and more progressive, who will most likely vote to defeat Amendment 2. The same is also true for the SayNo2 Campaign, which is galvanizing the progressive community to stand up and fight for the rights of all Floridians by defeating Amendment 2, which will bring out more voters for Obama.

This is the year when Florida can finally redeem itself from its dark past. We can move forward by electing a President who stands for the equality of all Americans and defeating an amendment that would strip rights away from families in our state. We are in a historic time- on a historic battlefield- that could tip the scales for not only our state, but the entire country- especially LGBT Americans.