The Florida House is set to vote on SB 524 which establishes an election security office under Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). The bill has been placed on the third reading calendar, which means the next step is final vote for the bill.
The bill has already been passed by the Florida Senate with a vote of 24-14. The bill was largely considered along party lines and was a proposal from DeSantis back in November.
According to the bill, the office that would be established would be under the Department of State and would be called the “Office of Election Crimes and Security.” It would be a 15-person office and would field complaints of voter fraud. It would also increase penalties for organizations that violate election laws.
Florida’s Republicans have taken measures to shore up Florida’s election process after the 2020 presidential election, which saw voter fraud claims in neighboring Georgia. During last year’s legislative session, Florida lawmakers passed SB 90 which is currently under federal trial.
While in Florida, there have been notable examples of voter registration fraud and voter fraud, as recently as last month.
When DeSantis announced his desire to see the idea come to fruition in the legislature DeSantis said it would be a reporting office to ensure Florida’s elections are fair.
“If somebody brings a sack of ballots and they’re stuffing them in a drop box, you have a place that will field these complaints and will immediately be able to investigate and hold them accountable,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also made note of keeping voter rolls updated, which he says is difficult in Florida.
“Some states really have very stable populations. We have a very dynamic population,” DeSantis said. “Now, we have more people moving in than move out, but nevertheless, that’s just the reality of what we do.”
Florida’s Democrat lawmakers have been opposed to the measure, saying the bill creates a “boogeyman” out of voter fraud.
“Voting is our most sacred right,” State Representative Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville). “I don’t know who came into the sponsor’s dream and turned it into a nightmare, but there is no boogeyman here.”
Florida State Senator Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee) accidentally voted “Yes” on the measure, but it was corrected.
“Please know that I did not intentionally vote for the BAD elections bill, SB 524,” Ausley said. “After nine hours in the Chamber today I pushed the wrong button. It has been changed. Good reason not to debate such important issues after dark.”
Please know that I did not intentionally vote for the BAD elections bill, SB 524. After 9 hours in the Chamber today I pushed the wrong button. It has been changed. Good reason not to debate such important issues after dark.
— Loranne Ausley (@LoranneAusley) March 5, 2022
Republican Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-Pinellas County) was the lone Republican opposed.
“For 15 people to go after what is potentially a handful of complaints that will ultimately be substantiated is just absolutely almost comical,” Brandes said. “So I am not going to support this bill today.”
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “election day” by Phil Roeder CC BY 2.0.
