Police cameras show confusion, anger over DeSantis’ voter fraud arrests
The never-before-seen footage, obtained by the Times/Herald through public records requests, offers a personal glimpse of the effects of DeSantis’ efforts to root out perceived voter fraud.
“They’re going to pay the price,” DeSantis said during the news conference announcing the arrests.
Of the 19 people arrested, 12 were registered as Democrats and at least 13 are Black, the Times/Herald found.
They are accused of violating a state law that doesn’t allow people convicted of murder or felony sex offenses to automatically be able to vote after they complete their sentence. A 2018 state constitutional amendment that restored the right to vote to many felons excluded this group.
But, as the videos further support, the amendment and subsequent actions by state lawmakers caused mass confusion about who was eligible, and the state’s voter registration forms offer no clarity. They only require a potential voter to swear, under penalty of perjury, that they’re not a felon, or if they are, that their rights have been restored. The forms do not clarify that those with murder convictions don’t get automatic restoration of their rights.
Oliver’s lawyer, Tampa attorney Mark Rankin, said he thinks DeSantis’ election security force chose these 20 in particular because the public would not have sympathy for people who were convicted of murder or sexual offenses. During a news conference announcing the arrests, DeSantis noted their criminal records.
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Out of curiosity, I looked at the statues, and it’s kinda ambiguous, but it sounds to me like a sex offender (or murderer) can lawfully REGISTER to vote, just not actually vote.
But then, the supervisor of elections is supposed to make sure the person is eligible to vote including checking to see if they are a registered sex offender, and then notify the person if they are not. So in the above cases, did the supervisor determine they were ineligible and attempt to notify them?
Can’t think of any good reason to register to vote if you aren’t eligible to actually vote, and can think of a good reason not to– you will get places onto all the political spam mailing lists! So look at the bright side! You’re not getting inundated with political solicitations!