Florida Senate considers overhaul of state election laws
How well we remember the arrest of the 20 people during the summer of 2022, accused of voter fraud. Some of these cases touted by our governor were dismissed. Body cameras showed the surprised and confused looks on the faces of many who were arrested.
Some of these people were told by voters’ registration groups that they were now eligible to vote, while County Supervisor of Elections’ Offices were sending out voter identification cards to some of these same people.
Senate Bill 7050, which is moving through the Florida Senate, would require the following disclaimer on voter identification cards: “This card is proof of registration, but is not legal verification of the eligibility to vote.”
TRANSLATION: The state of Florida with all its technology and expertise is incapable of determining whether or not certain people are eligible to vote; yet, individuals who have no internet access or are homeless are expected to know if they meet all the eligibility requirements.
Mypanhandle.com states that some other changes in the bill are “enhanced guidelines and penalties for voter registration groups and limitations to voting by mail for some first-time voters.”
Additionally, this bill would require third-party voter registration organizations to inform the Division of Elections as to the general election cycle for which they are registering persons to vote.
Seems like this could be voter intimidation
They already have added a new rule on the SO registration form that you are not legally able to vote and must initial with the rest of the myriad of rules… Saw it when I registered last Jan.
Just because it’s on the registration paperwork doesn’t mean that it’s in the law. Never sign anything like that because that could constitute agreeing to it. You are under no obligation to sign any of your registration paperwork. They sure do freak out though when you tell them you’re not going to sign it. What I was told to do was to send a letter to the Florida department of State to ask if you can vote or not. They will certify one way or the other your ability or inability to vote in an official capacity.
I always add “Signed under intimidation” to the form. (I know it carries no legal weight, but it’s on the record.)
I was told: “if you don’t initial and sign it, you are not registered”…
Be careful about refusing to sign the registration forms. Here in Michigan, refusal to do so is a felony.
Jed, will you, or anyone who has a version of the registration form containing the new rule re: voting, please post a picture of that rule (or at least the exact wording of it) for all of us to see? I would really appreciate that, since I had adjudictation withheld and am still allowed to vote. Thanks.
[moderator’s note: A direct quote may suffice].
Yup, good ol’ voter suppression. I’m actually a bit surprised that they don’t want to include this sentence: “If you are not eligible to vote and vote fraudulently, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law including a possible term of imprisonment.”
🙄
So, having my rights restored in the state i was charged and sentenced, before moving to Florida, is nullified though i havent been charged or convicted under Florida law?
Yes, Because I have my full civil rights restored yes even to vote, 8 months 3 days before moving to Florida, signed by the District Judge where my offense occurred. I did not know about having my full civil right’s until, DCF took away our grandson because I was in the home and I was raising him since he was born, 9 years and then they come in and say I cannot be around him, also a judge told me too. Where is my rights? The sheriff’s office said that I have some rights not all. I have asked “what court case number, and what am I charged with in this state of Florida” they told me they changed me with a similar offense from the other states record. Took away my rights to better education, rights to vote, rights to live where I want to. So basically I have NO rights in this state.
Mark, I am horrified but not surprised that someone at the sheriff’s office told you, “they changed me with a similar offense from the other states record.” There are some in law enforcement (LE) who will totally BS a person if it serves their purpose. The idea that Florida has the jurisdiction to charge someone for acts in another state is absurd. Even if it did, a conviction would be necessary in order to require registration. This is just another example of why I will never set foot in Florida. And, why is it a crime for the public to make a false official statement, but LE can lie with impunity?
I am a landholder citizen of Florida. I pay many taxes.
This is (and continues to be) taxation without representation!
(Besides which, FL Amendment 4, in my opinion, is based on an illegality. –It defied a federal judges order!)
Where are all the movie producers when you need them? This would make a great movie . A comedy. Most of the scenes you could use real politician’s and wouldn’t have to pay them. Just let them be themselves. And interview other government agencies to set the story.
Sorry but it’s humerus since I’m not in Florida and having to deal with it. Feel for you guys. These people are turning Florida in to a laughing stock for the country. But an embarrassment in the world.
https://news.yahoo.com/experts-say-sex-offender-registries-dont-work-can-they-be-fixed-215957631.html
Riff Raff
Great info. I printed it out just for reference to use in court if I ever get a chance.
Well then…if I get a debilitating illness and can’t/ won’t be accepted in an assisted living facility…then Prison may be my only recourse. So, voting is a crime…what ya in for? I voted! I wonder how future generations will look at removing someones right to vote, but still had to pay all taxes
I know law makers like to pretend a lot these days. Saying this is an overhaul is a bit of a stretch. Seems like an endless game we play were we loose ground and they pretend to serve the publics best interests.
It’s just another elaborate form of voter suppression.
Once again, lawmaker’s little brains are predictable.
If someone is not eligible to vote, a voter registration card should not be issued. This isn’t rocket science.
Well, they do give out DLs to those who have passed the FLA driver’s test even though they cannot drive worth s**t afterward and are a safety hazard to the public, but I digress.
This effort becomes a data point of knowing how many registered voters they state has and how many actually voted regardless of how many are actually eligible to vote. If it is not a satisfactory number, then the effort will be to get more people out to vote (regardless if they can or not).
If they really wanted to break it down, they would say how many registered voters there are, how many voted, and how many were actually eligible to vote who did vote. That would raise some eyebrows! Is there some money tied to maintaining the voter rolls where more the merrier, e.g., the FLA PFR rolls?
Also, if they are registered regardless of eligibility, then they will be subject to the endless campaign emails, texts, and spam calls.
This effort is a waste of taxpayer monies at best and disingenuous, IMO. By the way, voter registration is voluntary, so misleading the people to register to vote who are ineligible to vote to start should be found as a fraudulent act, IMO, by those who are working to get more registered voters.
Sent this to Nexstar Media:
To the editor:
I, like most Americans, believe the government works for the people, and not the other way around.
There has been much media attention regarding illegal voting in the state of Florida, and the governor has placed a peculiar priority on ensuring enforcement that resulted in 20 citizens being subject to criminal prosecution. While there are certainly much greater criminal justice priorities other than ensuring 20 law abiding citizens are locked up over confusing regulations regarding voter eligibility, the fact that Florida continues to push for more ways to penalize these 20, and others that may fall into the same predicament, alarms me.
Regarding bill SB7050, from what was reported, I believe the changes will do little to nothing to clear up the confusion over voter eligibility. Putting the eligibility determination burden on the voter is unjustified when technology should make this a very simple matter for the state to perform. I am surprised at the suggestion that a one sentence disclaimer on the voter registration card would help clear up the confusion. Is this the best effort the state of Florida can provide to help its citizens know their eligibility to vote with confidence? All citizens of Florida should be very concerned that the state is eager to prosecute, and use the full weight of government to penalize citizens when it would barely lift a finger to help them avoid such prosecution. Are these the values we would like to see entrenched in our public servants and a government that is intended to serve us?
Please consider contacting your public official to ask for meaningful changes to the statutes that would help make the government work for us again, and not the other way around.
In recent years, there have been some extremely close elections (probably no so much in FloriDUH but elsewhere, like how Lauren Boebert’s narrow win was a mere 500 votes). It must be emphasized that Persons Forced to Register AND their loved ones, according to my recent activist survey, are MORE likely to get out and vote when they can.
FloriDUH remains one of the last remaining states that do not let Persons Forced to Register vote. In doing so, those who uphold these bans lose critical votes that can mean the difference between a victory and defeat.
This should be emphasized by FAC as it pushes to restore voting rights for all PFRs.