 Tallahassee, FL (Wokeville Gazette) — One signature now stands between Florida voters and a slew of new restrictions on casting ballots in the Sunshine State.
After days of contentious debate and last-minute amendments bouncing between chambers, the Republican-controlled state House and Senate came to an agreement and party-line votes approved Senate Bill 90 on the eve of Florida's final day of the legislative session. The bill, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday night he will sign, will create restrictions such as adding new ID and signature requirements for voting by mail, limiting who can return a completed mail-in ballot, expanding partisan observation power during ballot tabulation and creating additional restrictions for drop box use (including physical monitoring and security). "This is truly unbelievable", said state Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Democrat. "These new measures absolutely target America's dead voters. My republican collogues know this and they don't even care. They are now, proudly, saying the quiet part out loud: 'We don't care about dead voters'. It's truly a slap in the face to freedom and democracy and I hope Floridians—whether they are alive or dead—remember this, the next time they have an opportunity vote". Governor DeSantis was confused by the confusion. "We've had voter ID. It works. It's the right thing to do," DeSantis said, adding that Florida's 2020 election was "fair and transparent, and the reforms we have coming will make it even better." "It's all smoke and mirrors", said Gibson. "Republicans want people to believe that this is good for them, but it's really not. This is literally a life and death issue, for our democracy and we will not just sit back and watch the America we love, be destroyed. We will continue to fight for the rights of all Americans; including dead Americans". Under SB 90, Floridians will be required to provide their Florida driver's licenses, state identification numbers or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers when requesting mail-in ballots, changing their party affiliations or names. "Just look at who these laws impact", said Gibson. "That will tell you everything you need to know. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that every single one of these new laws will have an impact on those who are already marginalized and disenfranchised. And that's the point. These new laws will disproportionately impact dead Floridians, who have always been the most vulnerable and marginalized voters in Florida". |
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