From Politico: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed into law a sweeping new Florida election measure designed to mimic parts of the federal SAVE America Act that immediately drew a lawsuit from a coalition of voting and civil rights organizations.
The groups filed the federal lawsuit in Miami on Wednesday, though major provisions of the measure, including new proof of citizenship requirements and a ban on the use of student photo IDs for voting, will not take effect prior to the crucial 2026 midterms.
DeSantis, who has pushed a series of election law changes during his nearly eight years in office, including a stand-alone election crimes office, said, “This bill protects and expands integrity in our voter registration process.”
“Our constitution in the state of Florida says only American citizens are allowed to vote in our elections,” he added. “And so we need to make sure that that is the law.”
Multiple leftist and pro-immigrant groups immediately filed a lawsuit against the bill, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Rising, Common Cause, Hispanic Federation, and UnidosUS. They claim the bill is unconstitutional and will hinder voter registration efforts.
In a press release the governor’s office outlined provisions included in the bill:
Fortifying Voter Registration and Verification
- Requires verification of U.S. citizenship using REAL ID data for new and updated voter registrations
- Establishes a clear process to identify and remove potentially ineligible noncitizens from voter rolls
- Allows individuals to provide documentation to confirm eligibility
- Adds explicit notice that submitting false voter registration information is a felony
Ensuring Accurate and Up-to-Date Voter Rolls
- Enhances coordination between state and local agencies to identify potentially ineligible voters
- Requires supervisors of elections to investigate and take appropriate action
Enhancing Election Security
- Requires voting to be conducted using paper ballots, ensuring a verifiable record of every vote
- Updates identification requirements to ensure only secure, government-issued IDs are accepted
Increasing Accountability for Candidates
- Requires candidates to affirm they meet all legal qualifications for office
- Mandates disclosure of dual citizenship
- Requires federal candidates to disclose stock trading activity while in office
- Prevents last-minute name changes intended to mislead voters
- Establishes a legal process to challenge candidate eligibility
Strengthening Enforcement of Election Laws
- Establishes a five-year statute of limitations for felony election offenses
- Cracks down on election fraud and petition-related misconduct
- Prohibits candidates, political committees, and parties from knowingly accepting foreign contributions
Below is the full press conference, as DeSantis delivered remarks and signed the Florida SAVE Act on Wednesday:
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