Suit Filed to Halt Sabbath Voting

An American Jewish Congress-supported lawsuit is seeking to postpone a vote in the state-wide Florida Democratic Party caucus marking the first showdown between President Carter and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Mass. because it is being held this Saturday, which is also the last day of Succoth. The Florida Democratic Party is opposing the suit in which both undeclared Presidential candidates will be involved in what has been called a “significant” test of strength, although the vote is purely symbolic.

The suit, which was filed yesterday on behalf of David Kaufman, a registered Democrat who is a Hebrew teacher at Temple Israel here, will be heard this afternoon on an expedited basis by Orlando Federal District Court Chief Judge George Young. The suit is seeking a court ruling to permit Sabbath observers to vote in the caucuses by absentee ballot or on another date that would not require them to violate their religious beliefs.

Jerome Bornstein, a member of the National Governing Council of the A JCongress, and an Orlando lawyer who is representing Kaufman, will ask Judge Young for a temporary and permanent injunction to bar the election unless arrangements are made for Jews to take part.

In a statement supporting the suit, Phil Baum, associate executive director of the A JCongress, said that if the election went forward as scheduled, “Mr. Kaufman and the class of citizens he represents will be worshipping in the synagogue and will be disenfranchised from participating in this vital election. ” Some 879 Democratic state delegates in Florida will be chosen in the election.