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.
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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.
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.
It’s just another elaborate form of voter suppression.
Once again, lawmaker’s little brains are predictable.
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.
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
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.