Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to sign a voter ID law passed by the state’s legislature that could disenfranchise thousands in the state. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
Florida’s legislature has passed a voter registration law similar to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that’s now in Congress, but opponents say it will likely disenfranchise thousands in the state.
The bill passed the state house 77-28 just hours after clearing the state senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to sign it into law. He voiced his support on X Thursday.
“Although Florida has already enacted much of what the federal legislation contemplates, this will further fortify our state as the leader in election integrity,” he said.
After it’s signed into law, it will take effect in 2027.
“This is about the integrity of our elections,” one of the bill’s sponsors, State Sen. Erin Grall, a Republican from Vero Beach, said Wednesday on the Senate floor. “It is something that puts greater trust into our system.”
Florida residents will be required to show proof of citizenship with a birth certificate or passport when they register to vote. The citizenship of all registered voters will be verified with government databases like Real ID when the bill takes effect.
If during the verification process there was no citizenship document found, the local elections supervisor must notify that voter by mail. Then, to stay registered, that voter must show proof to their county elections office.
About 872,000 Florida residents still do not have Real IDs, Grall said.
College and retirement home IDs will no longer be enough at polling places, the bill says, which could prevent them from voting. Republicans have said those IDs are too easy to fake.
The bill also requires candidates to disclose if they are dual citizens with another country.
“I’m old enough to remember President Barack Obama being accused of not having U.S. citizenship and the so-called birther movement led by our current president, by the way, who demanded that President Obama prove his birth certificate. How is this not the same thing?” said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, WLRN reported.
Democratic elections lawyer Marc Elias said on X that he would sue the state if the bill is enacted.
Carmen Daugherty, interim executive director at Advancement Project, said the bill will disenfranchise Black and brown voters.
“Voters should pick their leaders. There’s nothing to celebrate about a system that keeps Black and brown voters, college student voters and retired voters from casting a ballot that counts,” Daugherty said in a statement. “HB 991, modeled on Congress’ dangerous SAVE America Act, will do just that, potentially disenfranchising tens of thousands of eligible voters.”
Evan Power, chair of the Republican Party of Florida, hailed the passage of the legislation in a statement.
“Floridians deserve absolute confidence that every legal vote counts and that our elections are secure,” Power said. “Showing ID is required for countless everyday activities — from buying alcohol to boarding a plane — yet Democrats claim verifying eligibility to vote is somehow too much to ask. That argument simply doesn’t hold up.”
“This commonsense legislation strengthens voter confidence and protects the integrity of Florida’s elections,” he added.
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President Donald Trump speaks during an event celebrating Women’s History Month in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
