The women's group wants the 2007 law declared unconstitutional because it allows the state to impose fines on any group that doesn't quickly turn in voter registration applications. A similar law passed by the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature in 2005 was blocked by a federal judge.

The lawsuit, filed in Miami, came on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of an Indiana law that requires voters to show up at the polls with a photo ID. Florida has a similar law.

League officials say they are halting all voter registration drives because of potential fines the state may soon impose. Secretary of State Kurt Browning recently announced that his office plans to start soon enforcing the measure.

RISKY

''This law makes it extremely risky for our volunteers and for our organization to conduct voter registration drives in Florida,'' Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, said in a statement. ``The escalating fines make voter registration drives prohibitively expensive, even for individuals who just want to help once a month. The threat of paying costly fees will chill registration efforts and keep eligible voters from the voter rolls.''

Three years ago lawmakers pushed ahead with steep fines against third-party groups that register voters. After that law was blocked, legislators scaled back the fines.

Under the current law, there is a $50 fine for each application turned in more than 10 days after it was filled out. That fine increases to $100 if it's not turned in by the election's registration deadline, and $500 if it is never turned in. The law has a $1,000 annual limit on fines against an organization, but those challenging it say it is unclear whether an entire organization like the League would have its fines capped at $1,000 or whether the fines could be applied to each of the League's chapters across the state.

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