Florida poised to tighten voting laws

Florida is poised to join other Republican-led states in tightening voting laws, a contentious nationwide push that critics say will make it harder for people to cast their ballots.

The Senate voted 23-17 in favor of a bill that puts new regulations on mail ballots and drop boxes and prohibits anyone other than an election worker from passing out items — including food and water — within 150 feet of a polling site.

“The goal for everybody is to make it as easy as possible to vote and make it as hard as possible to cheat,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis — a close ally of former President Donald Trump — has made the issue one of his top legislative priorities.

Democrats and voting rights groups, though, say the changes aren’t needed because Florida had a smooth election in 2020.

State Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, said Republicans are trying to “codify conspiracy theories” in response to baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

“This is about making it harder for hardworking folks to get their butts to the polls,” Cruz said.

The bill approved Monday by the Florida Senate would require that voters request a mail ballot every election cycle instead of every two.

Ballot drop boxes can be offered during early voting when election offices are open but must be monitored in person. That would do away with 24/7 drop boxes that were offered during the 2020 presidential election in many counties, including in Palm Beach and Broward.

The proposal specifies that a person can possess only the ballots of close relatives and no more than two nonrelatives, an effort to crack down on what has been called “ballot harvesting.”

Florida’s proposed election changes aren’t as sweeping as those in neighboring Georgia, which prompted a corporate backlash after legislators reduced the number of mail ballot boxes and imposed new voter identification requirements.

Still, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said the partisan-driven changes will undo progress that has made it easier for people to vote and will ultimately suppress voting.

“It’s not Georgia, but it is definitely Georgia lite,” he said.

State Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, said people have numerous ways to vote in Florida, including early voting, mail voting, drop boxes and in-person on Election Day.

“The only excuse you have is you are lazy if you do not vote,” he said.

The Senate approved the elec

tions bill mostly along party

lines, with state Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, breaking ranks to join the Democrats in opposition.

The House is still considering a similar elections bill that includes provisions not in the Senate measure. The two will have to be reconciled before the legislation heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

Florida’s legislative session is scheduled to end Friday.