At a news conference on Friday in West Palm Beach, DeSantis, a Republican, argued that the proposed legislation will increase residents’ confidence in the Florida elections, strengthen electoral security and transparency in the electoral process. DeSantis continued to sell false allegations about electoral security, although there is no evidence of widespread electoral fraud in the 2020 election.
While details of the proposed legislation were scarce, one measure would prohibit ballots voted by mail from being sent to all residents, causing only voters who request a ballot to receive one. According to the proposal, voters would need to request an absentee ballot each election year.
Another proposed measure would be to “address the use of ballot boxes”, which DeSantis called “a major problem” and argued that residents should send their absentee ballot or hand it over to an electoral office.
DeSantis also wants lawmakers, when they meet in March, to reinforce the signature verification process by postal vote and not to “exclude” Florida political parties and candidates from observing the voter signature comparison process.
And he expects the legislature to “deal with the collection of votes” in the state so as not to allow individuals to send votes by mail from other people, unless they are immediate family members.
Other proposals would prohibit counties from accepting financial assistance from private organizations for “getting votes” initiatives, would require electoral supervisors to post “favorable vote” ballots for the prospecting board to consider and real-time reporting of voter turnout data.
Praising the way Florida handled the 2020 election, DeSantis told supporters, “We need to make sure we stay ahead of the curve.”
“We need to make sure that our citizens have confidence in the elections, that they have the ability to vote. We obviously want everyone to vote. But we don’t want anyone to cheat. And we want to make sure that we find the right balance, “he said during the press conference.
Republican leaders of the state legislature said on Friday that they “join the governor in his efforts to continue to make Florida the national leader in electoral integrity” and “look forward to working with him on this important issue”.
“Instead of resting on their laurels and congratulating each other on the success of the 2020 elections, our time is better spent on preparing for 2022 and beyond. We don’t want to go back,” said Mayor Chris Sprowls and the mayor. Senate, Wilton Simpson. Friday statement.
At least 28 states have filed, pre-filed or are moving forward with 106 restrictive bills for the 2021 legislative session, according to a report by the Brennan Justice Center.
Eliza Sweren-Becker, the Brennan Center’s electoral and voting rights advisor, told CNN that state lawmakers are using “lies about electoral fraud to justify policy proposals that will limit access to ballots.”
DeSantis’ proposals are “unfortunately consistent with a number of policies that have been offered to restrict voter access,” said Sweren-Becker, adding that some of the governor’s proposals appear to be based on the “failed premise” and refute lies about 2020 electoral and electoral fraud.
But there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, and state election officials – even elected Republican party officials who supported Trump in the elections – denied the former president’s claim.
“I think these proposals will strengthen us even more. And I think they will put us in a wheelchair as these other elections arrive and people really continue to look for Florida,” said DeSantis on Friday.
CNN’s Maria Cartaya, Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.