The Florida Governor S New Election Crime Unit Makes Its First Arrests

Comment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis announced the first arrests by the state’s new election police Thursday: Twenty people previously incarcerated for murder or sexual assault who he said had voted illegally in the 2020 election . Florida’s GOP-led legislature passed a bill to create the Office of Election Crime and Security earlier this year at DeSantis’ behest. While the 2020 election went smoothly in Florida — DeSantis called it the “gold standard” for elections — the governor said issues remained, and conservative lawmakers sought to further strengthen election regulations. The governor – widely seen as a possible 2024 presidential contender – announced the arrests, saying the unit was “initiated to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud”. DeSantis said they were arrested for violating the rules of a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows ex-prisoners to register to vote — except for those who have committed a felony sexual assault or murder. “This is just the first step,” DeSantis said. “This is not the entirety of 2020.” But voters and experts said that if anything, the initial arrests show that Florida’s election system is strong and crime is rare. Some expressed concern that the new unit could have a chilling effect, particularly on vulnerable groups of voters, such as ex-prisoners who are legally eligible to vote. “It’s 20 people out of millions of voters,” said Michael McDonald, a polling expert and political science professor at the University of Florida. “These arrests have no bearing on the integrity of the electoral system.” DeSantis made the announcement flanked by law enforcement officers in Broward County, which has the most registered Democrats of any county in Florida. The arrests came about six weeks after the office opened and five days before the state primary. In recent years, Florida has introduced new voting regulations. The legislation passed in 2021 and this year reduced the number of ballots and also made possession of more than two ballots a felony. DeSantis said this is aimed at eliminating “ballot harvesting.” Voting rights advocates say it criminalizes the once-common practice in places like black churches where volunteers collected and delivered ballots. For those who have been convicted of a felony, the process of renewing voter rights can be onerous. Legislation signed by DeSantis requires them to pay all fines and fees resulting from their convictions, a process that is confusing because there is no central database for citizens and election supervisors to consult. “To this day we believe that if the state can’t hold up its end of the bargain, then it should be reluctant to jeopardize an individual’s freedom,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Coalition for Restoring Rights. “The state system is broken. These people should never have registered. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D), a former Florida governor who is running to face DeSantis in the upcoming gubernatorial election, said Thursday’s arrests were about “playing politics” and voter intimidation rather than securing an election. “Ron DeSandis likes to say we had one of the best-run elections in 2020,” Crist said. “Then why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder for people to vote?” The arrests come as election officials and officials face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal attacks in response to Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 White House race was tainted by fraud — a lie that has fueled disbelief among his supporters the credibility of the country’s electoral system. DeSantis defended and continues to defend the accuracy and efficiency of Florida’s election offices, but said voter fraud still exists. The Florida Department of State received 262 voter fraud complaint forms in 2020 and referred 75 to law enforcement or prosecutors. About 11 million Floridians voted for president in November. “Before I proposed it, that was my idea, because people were not being prosecuted. There were just examples of things that seemed to fall through the cracks,” DeSantis said. Thursday’s event, held in a courtroom in a public building, had a partisan tone. Attendees had to be on a list to enter the courtroom, and a woman who identified herself as a Palm Beach County Republican Party volunteer kept track of who could enter. At least one Democrat, Ben Sorensen, a Democratic Fort Lauderdale deputy mayor and congressional candidate, tried to gain access to the event but was denied entry. Inside, DeSantis’ employees sat in the back of the room. Guests, including Republican supporters and officials from across South Florida, sat in the jury box. Many held signs reading “My Vote Counts” that were erased minutes before DeSantis entered the chamber. Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the Equal Ground Education Fund, which supports voting rights, said the arrests could spark fear among people who have only recently regained the right to vote. “This creates so much fear in people who have already voted,” Burney-Clarke said. MacDonald, the University of Florida professor, expressed concern that Thursday’s arrests show that officials are targeting specific groups of voters — particularly those who have been incarcerated in the past. He pointed out that Trump had to correct his voter registration in 2020 when he said his address was the White House, which made him ineligible to vote in Florida. “I wouldn’t go after Donald Trump for that. He made a mistake and he corrected it,” McDonald said. “I think other people should be given the same consideration that Donald Trump was given.” Amy Gardner in Washington contributed to this report.

title: “The Florida Governor S New Election Crime Unit Makes Its First Arrests Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Roberto Green”

Comment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis announced the first arrests by the state’s new election police Thursday: Twenty people previously incarcerated for murder or sexual assault who he said had voted illegally in the 2020 election . Florida’s GOP-led legislature passed a bill to create the Office of Election Crime and Security earlier this year at DeSantis’ behest. While the 2020 election went smoothly in Florida — DeSantis called it the “gold standard” for elections — the governor said issues remained, and conservative lawmakers sought to further strengthen election regulations. The governor – widely seen as a possible 2024 presidential contender – announced the arrests, saying the unit was “initiated to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud”. DeSantis said they were arrested for violating the rules of a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows ex-prisoners to register to vote — except for those who have committed a felony sexual assault or murder. “This is just the first step,” DeSantis said. “This is not the entirety of 2020.” But voters and experts said that if anything, the initial arrests show that Florida’s election system is strong and crime is rare. Some expressed concern that the new unit could have a chilling effect, particularly on vulnerable groups of voters, such as ex-prisoners who are legally eligible to vote. “It’s 20 people out of millions of voters,” said Michael McDonald, a polling expert and political science professor at the University of Florida. “These arrests have no bearing on the integrity of the electoral system.” DeSantis made the announcement flanked by law enforcement officers in Broward County, which has the most registered Democrats of any county in Florida. The arrests came about six weeks after the office opened and five days before the state primary. In recent years, Florida has introduced new voting regulations. The legislation passed in 2021 and this year reduced the number of ballots and also made possession of more than two ballots a felony. DeSantis said this is aimed at eliminating “ballot harvesting.” Voting rights advocates say it criminalizes the once-common practice in places like black churches where volunteers collected and delivered ballots. For those who have been convicted of a felony, the process of renewing voter rights can be onerous. Legislation signed by DeSantis requires them to pay all fines and fees resulting from their convictions, a process that is confusing because there is no central database for citizens and election supervisors to consult. “To this day we believe that if the state can’t hold up its end of the bargain, then it should be reluctant to jeopardize an individual’s freedom,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Coalition for Restoring Rights. “The state system is broken. These people should never have registered. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D), a former Florida governor who is running to face DeSantis in the upcoming gubernatorial election, said Thursday’s arrests were about “playing politics” and voter intimidation rather than securing an election. “Ron DeSandis likes to say we had one of the best-run elections in 2020,” Crist said. “Then why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder for people to vote?” The arrests come as election officials and officials face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal attacks in response to Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 White House race was tainted by fraud — a lie that has fueled disbelief among his supporters the credibility of the country’s electoral system. DeSantis defended and continues to defend the accuracy and efficiency of Florida’s election offices, but said voter fraud still exists. The Florida Department of State received 262 voter fraud complaint forms in 2020 and referred 75 to law enforcement or prosecutors. About 11 million Floridians voted for president in November. “Before I proposed it, that was my idea, because people were not being prosecuted. There were just examples of things that seemed to fall through the cracks,” DeSantis said. Thursday’s event, held in a courtroom in a public building, had a partisan tone. Attendees had to be on a list to enter the courtroom, and a woman who identified herself as a Palm Beach County Republican Party volunteer kept track of who could enter. At least one Democrat, Ben Sorensen, a Democratic Fort Lauderdale deputy mayor and congressional candidate, tried to gain access to the event but was denied entry. Inside, DeSantis’ employees sat in the back of the room. Guests, including Republican supporters and officials from across South Florida, sat in the jury box. Many held signs reading “My Vote Counts” that were erased minutes before DeSantis entered the chamber. Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the Equal Ground Education Fund, which supports voting rights, said the arrests could spark fear among people who have only recently regained the right to vote. “This creates so much fear in people who have already voted,” Burney-Clarke said. MacDonald, the University of Florida professor, expressed concern that Thursday’s arrests show that officials are targeting specific groups of voters — particularly those who have been incarcerated in the past. He pointed out that Trump had to correct his voter registration in 2020 when he said his address was the White House, which made him ineligible to vote in Florida. “I wouldn’t go after Donald Trump for that. He made a mistake and he corrected it,” McDonald said. “I think other people should be given the same consideration that Donald Trump was given.” Amy Gardner in Washington contributed to this report.

title: “The Florida Governor S New Election Crime Unit Makes Its First Arrests Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-07” author: “Araceli Mercuri”

Comment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis announced the first arrests by the state’s new election police Thursday: Twenty people previously incarcerated for murder or sexual assault who he said had voted illegally in the 2020 election . Florida’s GOP-led legislature passed a bill to create the Office of Election Crime and Security earlier this year at DeSantis’ behest. While the 2020 election went smoothly in Florida — DeSantis called it the “gold standard” for elections — the governor said issues remained, and conservative lawmakers sought to further strengthen election regulations. The governor – widely seen as a possible 2024 presidential contender – announced the arrests, saying the unit was “initiated to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud”. DeSantis said they were arrested for violating the rules of a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows ex-prisoners to register to vote — except for those who have committed a felony sexual assault or murder. “This is just the first step,” DeSantis said. “This is not the entirety of 2020.” But voters and experts said that if anything, the initial arrests show that Florida’s election system is strong and crime is rare. Some expressed concern that the new unit could have a chilling effect, particularly on vulnerable groups of voters, such as ex-prisoners who are legally eligible to vote. “It’s 20 people out of millions of voters,” said Michael McDonald, a polling expert and political science professor at the University of Florida. “These arrests have no bearing on the integrity of the electoral system.” DeSantis made the announcement flanked by law enforcement officers in Broward County, which has the most registered Democrats of any county in Florida. The arrests came about six weeks after the office opened and five days before the state primary. In recent years, Florida has introduced new voting regulations. The legislation passed in 2021 and this year reduced the number of ballots and also made possession of more than two ballots a felony. DeSantis said this is aimed at eliminating “ballot harvesting.” Voting rights advocates say it criminalizes the once-common practice in places like black churches where volunteers collected and delivered ballots. For those who have been convicted of a felony, the process of renewing voter rights can be onerous. Legislation signed by DeSantis requires them to pay all fines and fees resulting from their convictions, a process that is confusing because there is no central database for citizens and election supervisors to consult. “To this day we believe that if the state can’t hold up its end of the bargain, then it should be reluctant to jeopardize an individual’s freedom,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Coalition for Restoring Rights. “The state system is broken. These people should never have registered. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D), a former Florida governor who is running to face DeSantis in the upcoming gubernatorial election, said Thursday’s arrests were about “playing politics” and voter intimidation rather than securing an election. “Ron DeSandis likes to say we had one of the best-run elections in 2020,” Crist said. “Then why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder for people to vote?” The arrests come as election officials and officials face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal attacks in response to Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 White House race was tainted by fraud — a lie that has fueled disbelief among his supporters the credibility of the country’s electoral system. DeSantis defended and continues to defend the accuracy and efficiency of Florida’s election offices, but said voter fraud still exists. The Florida Department of State received 262 voter fraud complaint forms in 2020 and referred 75 to law enforcement or prosecutors. About 11 million Floridians voted for president in November. “Before I proposed it, that was my idea, because people were not being prosecuted. There were just examples of things that seemed to fall through the cracks,” DeSantis said. Thursday’s event, held in a courtroom in a public building, had a partisan tone. Attendees had to be on a list to enter the courtroom, and a woman who identified herself as a Palm Beach County Republican Party volunteer kept track of who could enter. At least one Democrat, Ben Sorensen, a Democratic Fort Lauderdale deputy mayor and congressional candidate, tried to gain access to the event but was denied entry. Inside, DeSantis’ employees sat in the back of the room. Guests, including Republican supporters and officials from across South Florida, sat in the jury box. Many held signs reading “My Vote Counts” that were erased minutes before DeSantis entered the chamber. Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the Equal Ground Education Fund, which supports voting rights, said the arrests could spark fear among people who have only recently regained the right to vote. “This creates so much fear in people who have already voted,” Burney-Clarke said. MacDonald, the University of Florida professor, expressed concern that Thursday’s arrests show that officials are targeting specific groups of voters — particularly those who have been incarcerated in the past. He pointed out that Trump had to correct his voter registration in 2020 when he said his address was the White House, which made him ineligible to vote in Florida. “I wouldn’t go after Donald Trump for that. He made a mistake and he corrected it,” McDonald said. “I think other people should be given the same consideration that Donald Trump was given.” Amy Gardner in Washington contributed to this report.

title: “The Florida Governor S New Election Crime Unit Makes Its First Arrests Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-17” author: “Joseph Forman”

Comment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis announced the first arrests by the state’s new election police Thursday: Twenty people previously incarcerated for murder or sexual assault who he said had voted illegally in the 2020 election . Florida’s GOP-led legislature passed a bill to create the Office of Election Crime and Security earlier this year at DeSantis’ behest. While the 2020 election went smoothly in Florida — DeSantis called it the “gold standard” for elections — the governor said issues remained, and conservative lawmakers sought to further strengthen election regulations. The governor – widely seen as a possible 2024 presidential contender – announced the arrests, saying the unit was “initiated to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud”. DeSantis said they were arrested for violating the rules of a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows ex-prisoners to register to vote — except for those who have committed a felony sexual assault or murder. “This is just the first step,” DeSantis said. “This is not the entirety of 2020.” But voters and experts said that if anything, the initial arrests show that Florida’s election system is strong and crime is rare. Some expressed concern that the new unit could have a chilling effect, particularly on vulnerable groups of voters, such as ex-prisoners who are legally eligible to vote. “It’s 20 people out of millions of voters,” said Michael McDonald, a polling expert and political science professor at the University of Florida. “These arrests have no bearing on the integrity of the electoral system.” DeSantis made the announcement flanked by law enforcement officers in Broward County, which has the most registered Democrats of any county in Florida. The arrests came about six weeks after the office opened and five days before the state primary. In recent years, Florida has introduced new voting regulations. The legislation passed in 2021 and this year reduced the number of ballots and also made possession of more than two ballots a felony. DeSantis said this is aimed at eliminating “ballot harvesting.” Voting rights advocates say it criminalizes the once-common practice in places like black churches where volunteers collected and delivered ballots. For those who have been convicted of a felony, the process of renewing voter rights can be onerous. Legislation signed by DeSantis requires them to pay all fines and fees resulting from their convictions, a process that is confusing because there is no central database for citizens and election supervisors to consult. “To this day we believe that if the state can’t hold up its end of the bargain, then it should be reluctant to jeopardize an individual’s freedom,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Coalition for Restoring Rights. “The state system is broken. These people should never have registered. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D), a former Florida governor who is running to face DeSantis in the upcoming gubernatorial election, said Thursday’s arrests were about “playing politics” and voter intimidation rather than securing an election. “Ron DeSandis likes to say we had one of the best-run elections in 2020,” Crist said. “Then why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder for people to vote?” The arrests come as election officials and officials face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal attacks in response to Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 White House race was tainted by fraud — a lie that has fueled disbelief among his supporters the credibility of the country’s electoral system. DeSantis defended and continues to defend the accuracy and efficiency of Florida’s election offices, but said voter fraud still exists. The Florida Department of State received 262 voter fraud complaint forms in 2020 and referred 75 to law enforcement or prosecutors. About 11 million Floridians voted for president in November. “Before I proposed it, that was my idea, because people were not being prosecuted. There were just examples of things that seemed to fall through the cracks,” DeSantis said. Thursday’s event, held in a courtroom in a public building, had a partisan tone. Attendees had to be on a list to enter the courtroom, and a woman who identified herself as a Palm Beach County Republican Party volunteer kept track of who could enter. At least one Democrat, Ben Sorensen, a Democratic Fort Lauderdale deputy mayor and congressional candidate, tried to gain access to the event but was denied entry. Inside, DeSantis’ employees sat in the back of the room. Guests, including Republican supporters and officials from across South Florida, sat in the jury box. Many held signs reading “My Vote Counts” that were erased minutes before DeSantis entered the chamber. Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the Equal Ground Education Fund, which supports voting rights, said the arrests could spark fear among people who have only recently regained the right to vote. “This creates so much fear in people who have already voted,” Burney-Clarke said. MacDonald, the University of Florida professor, expressed concern that Thursday’s arrests show that officials are targeting specific groups of voters — particularly those who have been incarcerated in the past. He pointed out that Trump had to correct his voter registration in 2020 when he said his address was the White House, which made him ineligible to vote in Florida. “I wouldn’t go after Donald Trump for that. He made a mistake and he corrected it,” McDonald said. “I think other people should be given the same consideration that Donald Trump was given.” Amy Gardner in Washington contributed to this report.

title: “The Florida Governor S New Election Crime Unit Makes Its First Arrests Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Laura Guzman”

Comment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis announced the first arrests by the state’s new election police Thursday: Twenty people previously incarcerated for murder or sexual assault who he said had voted illegally in the 2020 election . Florida’s GOP-led legislature passed a bill to create the Office of Election Crime and Security earlier this year at DeSantis’ behest. While the 2020 election went smoothly in Florida — DeSantis called it the “gold standard” for elections — the governor said issues remained, and conservative lawmakers sought to further strengthen election regulations. The governor – widely seen as a possible 2024 presidential contender – announced the arrests, saying the unit was “initiated to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud”. DeSantis said they were arrested for violating the rules of a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows ex-prisoners to register to vote — except for those who have committed a felony sexual assault or murder. “This is just the first step,” DeSantis said. “This is not the entirety of 2020.” But voters and experts said that if anything, the initial arrests show that Florida’s election system is strong and crime is rare. Some expressed concern that the new unit could have a chilling effect, particularly on vulnerable groups of voters, such as ex-prisoners who are legally eligible to vote. “It’s 20 people out of millions of voters,” said Michael McDonald, a polling expert and political science professor at the University of Florida. “These arrests have no bearing on the integrity of the electoral system.” DeSantis made the announcement flanked by law enforcement officers in Broward County, which has the most registered Democrats of any county in Florida. The arrests came about six weeks after the office opened and five days before the state primary. In recent years, Florida has introduced new voting regulations. The legislation passed in 2021 and this year reduced the number of ballots and also made possession of more than two ballots a felony. DeSantis said this is aimed at eliminating “ballot harvesting.” Voting rights advocates say it criminalizes the once-common practice in places like black churches where volunteers collected and delivered ballots. For those who have been convicted of a felony, the process of renewing voter rights can be onerous. Legislation signed by DeSantis requires them to pay all fines and fees resulting from their convictions, a process that is confusing because there is no central database for citizens and election supervisors to consult. “To this day we believe that if the state can’t hold up its end of the bargain, then it should be reluctant to jeopardize an individual’s freedom,” said Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Coalition for Restoring Rights. “The state system is broken. These people should never have registered. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D), a former Florida governor who is running to face DeSantis in the upcoming gubernatorial election, said Thursday’s arrests were about “playing politics” and voter intimidation rather than securing an election. “Ron DeSandis likes to say we had one of the best-run elections in 2020,” Crist said. “Then why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder for people to vote?” The arrests come as election officials and officials face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal attacks in response to Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 White House race was tainted by fraud — a lie that has fueled disbelief among his supporters the credibility of the country’s electoral system. DeSantis defended and continues to defend the accuracy and efficiency of Florida’s election offices, but said voter fraud still exists. The Florida Department of State received 262 voter fraud complaint forms in 2020 and referred 75 to law enforcement or prosecutors. About 11 million Floridians voted for president in November. “Before I proposed it, that was my idea, because people were not being prosecuted. There were just examples of things that seemed to fall through the cracks,” DeSantis said. Thursday’s event, held in a courtroom in a public building, had a partisan tone. Attendees had to be on a list to enter the courtroom, and a woman who identified herself as a Palm Beach County Republican Party volunteer kept track of who could enter. At least one Democrat, Ben Sorensen, a Democratic Fort Lauderdale deputy mayor and congressional candidate, tried to gain access to the event but was denied entry. Inside, DeSantis’ employees sat in the back of the room. Guests, including Republican supporters and officials from across South Florida, sat in the jury box. Many held signs reading “My Vote Counts” that were erased minutes before DeSantis entered the chamber. Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the Equal Ground Education Fund, which supports voting rights, said the arrests could spark fear among people who have only recently regained the right to vote. “This creates so much fear in people who have already voted,” Burney-Clarke said. MacDonald, the University of Florida professor, expressed concern that Thursday’s arrests show that officials are targeting specific groups of voters — particularly those who have been incarcerated in the past. He pointed out that Trump had to correct his voter registration in 2020 when he said his address was the White House, which made him ineligible to vote in Florida. “I wouldn’t go after Donald Trump for that. He made a mistake and he corrected it,” McDonald said. “I think other people should be given the same consideration that Donald Trump was given.” Amy Gardner in Washington contributed to this report.