A common misconception about any state-level reform is a mindset of, “it’ll never happen to me. That new law is about other people.” 

As someone who experienced firsthand the state denying my right to vote, I am here to share my story and to say clearly — if House Bill 991 or Senate Bill 1334 pass into law, you could be denied your right to vote just like I was. 

About 10 years ago, I moved back home to Kansas to take care of an ailing grandparent. As part of my care taking role, state officials allowed me to assist my grandfather with in-person voting in the primaries.  

Since I had recently moved back to Kansas, I decided to register to vote at that time. But election officials denied my registration. They demanded to see my birth certificate, which I didn’t even think about bringing to the county clerk because I never needed to before. 

A follow-up letter confirmed — if I did not bring my original birth certificate to my local election official by the registration deadline, I would be denied the right to vote under Kansas law. 

Now, let me back up a little bit. I am an American citizen. The child of a veteran, I arrived into this world on a U.S. military base in Missouri. 

But as any military kid will tell you, that “original” birth certificate wasn’t easy to find. My parents couldn’t find it in time, and I was unable to cast a ballot for the first time since my 18th birthday..Thankfully, a court overturned that Kansas law in Fish v. Kobachand restored my right to vote. But as I hear lawmakers consider the same  laws here in Florida, I remember my experience. Our state’s and nation’s elections have been declared free and fair yet this makes elections neither free (you have to pay to obtain new documents) nor fair (this will disproportionately impact students, married or divorced women, people with disabilities and seniors). It’s nothing but an attempt to hold onto political power and block people from voting. 

I am a citizen but the government wouldn’t allow me to vote. That same thing will happen here in Florida if HB991 or SB1334 become law. 

And frankly, if they do, the state may deny my right to vote again. Yes, I have a state issued driver’s license. And yes, I am registered here in Florida. 

But like many people, I have changed my name a few times in my life. I got married. I got divorced. My name changed each time. If the database Florida election officials choose to check has one of my previous names, the system will likely flag my file and try to deny my right to vote again. 

My divorce decree is from a court in another state. I would have to pay hundreds of dollars to get it sent to me. Would officials require both my marriage license and my divorce decree? Would they require that birth certificate again? 

Under these new proposals, likely yes. And so once again, the state would deny my right to vote. Not a bogeyman trying to commit election fraud — a U.S. citizen, born here, eligible to vote.. 

That’s why groups like Common Cause, Florida Rising, and other voting rights groups are working so hard to stop these bills. These are not simple measures. They are complex and they will deny U.S. citizens the right to vote like Kansas denied me. 

These bills will require anyone who does not have a recent Florida driver’s license to re-submit documents to prove their citizenship. This will impact seniors, students, people with disabilities and those without the time or money to get documents. 

It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Florida, and the consequences of doing so are already extremely harsh. That’s not what these bills are really about. This is about making voting harder for Floridians so that voters cannot hold our elected officials accountable. 

Don’t let them get away with it. Don’t let them take away your right to vote over a specific piece of paper, like the state took away my rights. 

 
Letitia Harmon is the Senior Director of Policy and Research for Florida Rising, a voting rights group. She currently lives in northern Florida.