(John Ransom, Headline USA) Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued his exercise in government reformation by creating a criminal division dedicated to investigating vote fraud.
“I don’t think there is any other place in the country where you should have more confidence that your vote counts than in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said at a news conference before signing the law, according to CNN.
DeSantis has implemented a series of measures, laws and reforms that are bound to cheer conservatives, including anti-grooming legislation, the rejection of CRT in Florida textbooks, the revocation of Disney special tax status and redistricting.
JUST IN: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a sweeping voting overhaul bill that establishes a new election police force, giving his administration a new way to probe election crimes https://t.co/0P72d6HQ1m
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 25, 2022
The creation of the special force trained in election fraud and other voting issues comes amid criticism that regular law-enforcement doesn’t have the adequate training to understand how election fraud might be committed.
“Some of them may not care as much about the election stuff,” said DeSantis, according to News4Jax.
“I think it’s been mixed at how those reactions are going to be. So we just want to make sure whatever laws are on the books, that those laws are enforced.”
Under existing law the governor was allowed to appoint investigators to investigate elections, but wasn’t required to. This legislation fills that gap, according to the Jacksonville news station.
Predictably, Democrats charge that the new legislation is just an attempt to intimidate black voters to prevent them from voting in elections.
“Its implementation will put up additional barriers to voting and targets communities of color. This bullying tactic will intimidate and immobilize workers, families, and everyday people,” said Florida Democrat Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson from Gainesville, according to Politico.
The law also includes provisions that would make ballot harvesting illegal, and require the states DMV to notify the state of any non-citizens to whom they issue driver’s licenses.
The drivers licenses could be used as a means of identification, allowing people who are in the country to register to vote who otherwise are not legally allowed to vote.
