CNN: Florida lawmakers are poised to pass a bill that would create an election police force. What would it do?

03.9.2022 / By Kelly Mena
CNN: Florida lawmakers are poised to pass a bill that would create an election police force. What would it do?

"No voter should have to factor the likelihood of getting investigated into their calculation of whether and how to vote. No one should face felony prosecution for helping three friends by taking their ballots to the post office," Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections for Common Cause, said in a statement in late February. "Our 'government by the people' is stronger and more representative when more people vote."

(CNN) – The GOP-led Florida state House is set on Wednesday to give final passage to a bill that aims to change election laws in the Sunshine State, including creating an election police force — a proposal championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. …

The most controversial part of the bill is related to a provision that would create the Office of Election Crimes and Security under the Florida Department of State. The office would be able to initiate independent inquiries and conduct preliminary investigations “into allegations of election law violations or election irregularities in this state.”

The office would, according to the bill, employ election investigators, who would not be sworn officers of the law. Additionally, the office would be required to file a yearly report to the governor and state legislature with detailed information on the number of complaints that were received, independent investigations initiated and complaints referred to another agency for further investigation or prosecution.
The measure would ban ranked-choice voting for local elections and require elections officials to update voter rolls every year. The bill also would increase misdemeanor violations to felonies for collecting more than one vote-by-mail ballot. …

Voting rights advocates and Democrats have denounced the bill as a form of voter suppression and intimidation. …

“No voter should have to factor the likelihood of getting investigated into their calculation of whether and how to vote. No one should face felony prosecution for helping three friends by taking their ballots to the post office,” Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections for Common Cause, said in a statement in late February. “Our ‘government by the people’ is stronger and more representative when more people vote.”

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