“We are excited to say that next legislative session we are proposing another package of election integrity reforms that will make Florida the number one state for elections,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am excited that with this legislation, our state will be able to enforce election violations, combat voter fraud and make sure violators are held accountable. If potential violators know they will be held accountable, they will be much less likely to engage in improper conduct in the first place.”
At the event, Governor DeSantis called on the Legislature to take four additional steps to safeguard our elections:
• Establish an Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State to investigate election crimes and fraud;
• Elevate the crime of ballot harvesting to a third-degree felony, recognizing that this offense is a serious attack on democracy;
• Require timelines for supervisors of elections to clean the voter rolls of ineligible voters; and
• Prohibit unsecure, haphazard drop box locations in Florida.
The 2022 legislative proposal builds on election integrity legislation signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2021 through Senate Bill 90. In 2021, Governor DeSantis worked with the Florida Legislature to strengthen voter identification, prohibit the mass mailing of ballots, ban ballot harvesting and prohibit private money (Zuckerbucks) from influencing elections in our state. (read more)
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Democrats across America collapse in histrionic fits of apoplexy in 3… 2… 1…
“Racist!” “White supremacy!” “Raaaacism!” Yes, noted white supremacist and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced a plan to create a new police unit to target election fraud on a full-time basis, also saying he wants state lawmakers to enhance penalties for cheaters — all in an effort to enhance election integrity. As I suggested in the headline, Democrats are no doubt devastated by the news:
“Not good.” Why not, obscure Democrat?
The announcement of the Office of Election Crimes and Security at a news conference in West Palm Beach, FL, as reported by Just the News, comes just months after DeSantis signed a law tightening security for mail-in ballots and as Republicans in many states continue to seek statewide audits of 2020 election results. DeSantis on Wednesday made a guarantee in the ongoing effort to curb election fraud.
“I guarantee you this: The first person that gets caught, no one is going to want to do it again after that.”
DeSantis also said he wants the Republican-controlled Florida legislature to slap additional restrictions on the use of ballot drop boxes, suggesting he no longer believes in the boxes from a security perspective.
“I don’t even think we should have drop boxes, DeSantis said.
DeSantis gave an example of how the dedicated police unit would work to curb election fraud.
“If someone’s ballot harvesting, you report it to these people and this is their sole job. Some of these counties, some of them will do the cases but that’s not their expertise. They got all these other crimes that they have to deal with. So by the time it happens, the election’s already over.”
“Ballot harvesting,” as noted by Fox News, the practice of allowing political operatives and others to collect voters’ ballots and turn them in en masse to polling stations, has drawn concerns about voter fraud from bipartisan election watchers.
Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani (Orlando) twisted herself into a pretzel over the whole thing.
More attacks on voting coming to Florida. Just like in 2020 we had elections last night in our state w/no issues. Why does our Governor keep creating partisan chaos? Why can’t we just focus on problems like housing, hunger, taxes, our environment & public transportation?
Yo, Anna. Why is the DeSantis plan partisan? And where’s the chaos?
I missed the part where Democrats only would be subject to arrest by the new police unit for election “irregularities.” Perhaps thou dost protest too much.
Incidentally, long-time Trump ally Roger Stone this past weekend called for a “forensic audit” and hand recount of Florida’s 2020 presidential election results even though Trump easily won the state. Stone said he may run against DeSantis as a libertarian if he doesn’t order an audit.
Good luck with that, Roger. If you do decide to challenge DeSantis, maybe Sydney “Kraken” Powell and Lin “Firing Squad” Wood will keep an eye on the results for you and make silly predictions and stuff.