TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers on Thursday passed HB 991, a controversial "election integrity" bill that, if made into law, would change identification requirements for Florida residents to register to vote.
The Florida House approved the measure 77-28. Roughly five hours after the House vote, the Senate approved the measure, 27-12, mostly along partisan lines.
Though it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Florida, if the measure is signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, voters would have to meet new identification and U.S. citizenship verification requirements when registering to vote, such as a passport, birth certificate, or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. Student IDs and retirement IDs would no longer qualify.
Another provision of the measure includes that beginning January 1, 2027, all newly issued, replaced, or renewed driver’s licenses by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must include a person's citizenship status.
Critics, including the ACLU of Florida and the Southern Poverty Law Center, argue the bill creates "burdensome" barriers that could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters, particularly seniors, students, and low-income individuals who may lack easy access to birth certificates or passports.
Proponents of the measure, primarily Florida Republican lawmakers, argue that the measure is a “commonsense” bill that will ensure election security and that only legal U.S. citizens participate in Florida’s elections.
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lib224
Ho, hum, another voter suppression law from Republicans. Just can't win without rigging the system. Whatever happened to the citizen-passed amendment to allow ex-felons to vote. They still can't vote, disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters.
Sunday, March 15 Report this
bmcdaniel2
This is true voter suppression, particularly to the highest percentage of voters over 65 and women! Regardless of party, this will attack the population that is most engaged. I wish our legislature would spend time on the items that need doing, infrastructure, our environment and water needs, not all the unnecessary pandering!
Sunday, March 15 Report this
san.gander
A very undemocratic bill (small 'd') and not at all necessary due to the miniscule - as proven by the facts - voter fraud that occurs. It is an attempt by the Republican party to suppress the vote... particularly the vote of those they do not want to vote. Women, as this will affect you directly... why support these misogynistic A-holes!
Sunday, March 15 Report this