At a news conference in West Palm Beach on Friday, DeSantis, a Republican, argued that the legislative proposals would increase residents’ confidence in Florida elections, strengthen election certainty and transparency in the election process. DeSantis went on to make false allegations about the security of the election, although there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Although the details were few about the proposed legislation, one of the measures would prohibit mail ballots being sent to all residents so that only voters asking for a vote would receive one. According to the proposal, voters will have to ask for a vote every election year.
Another proposed measure would address ‘the use of ballot boxes’, which DeSantis called ‘a major problem’ and argued that residents should post their absent ballot papers or hand them in at an election office.
DeSantis also wants lawmakers, when convened in March, to step up the process of verifying the vote-by-post signature and not to “exclude” political parties and candidates in Florida from the voter turnout process. do not sign.
And he hopes the legislature will address the ballot in the state to not allow individuals to file ballots with other people unless they are an immediate family member.
Other proposals prohibit provinces from accepting financial assistance from private organizations for ‘voting’ initiatives, requiring election supervisors to submit ‘ballot papers’ to the Recruitment Board, and to provide timely reporting on voter turnout data. takes place.
In praise of Florida’s handling of the 2020 election, DeSantis told supporters, “We need to make sure we continue to stay ahead.”
“We need to make sure that our citizens have confidence in the election, that they have the ability to vote. Of course we want everyone to vote. But we do not want anyone to cheat. And we want to make sure that we to find the right balance, ‘he said during the press conference.
The Republican leaders of the state legislature said Friday that they “work with the governor in his efforts to continue to make Florida the national leader on electoral integrity” and “look forward to working with him on this important issue.”
“Instead of resting on our laurels and congratulating each other on a successful election in 2020, our time is best spent preparing for 2022 and beyond. We do not want to back down,” the speaker said. , Chris Sprowls, and Senate President Wilton Simpson said in a joint statement. statement Friday.
At least 28 states have introduced, submitted or advanced 106 restrictive bills to the Legislative Assembly in 2021, according to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Eliza Sweren-Becker, of the Brennan Center’s Voting and Election Council, told CNN that state lawmakers are using the “voter fraud lies to justify policy proposals that would restrict access to the ballot.”
DeSantis’ proposals “unfortunately coincide with a result of policies offered to restrict access to voters,” Sweren-Becker said, adding that some of the governor’s proposals appear to be based on the “erroneous premise” and that the lies about 2020 will be refuted. election and voter fraud.
But there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, and state election officials – even elected GOP officials who supported Trump for election – denied the former president’s claim.
“I think these proposals will strengthen us even more. And I think it will put us in the cat bird chair when these other elections come and people will continue to look for Florida,” DeSantis said Friday.
Maria Cartaya, Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt of CNN contributed to this report.