Florida Gov Ron DeSantis announces 20 people across the state have been charged with voter fraud for casting ballots after they were convicted of murder or sexual assault
- The governor did not say in what election they had voted but said they had come from Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties and
- He said they had been arrested for voting 'because they were convicted of murder or sexual assault'
- 'They did not go through any process. They did not get their rights restored and yet they went ahead and voted anyways,' DeSantis said
- The governor said the individuals could face a third degree felony with penalties up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that 20 people across his state have been charged with voter fraud.
The governor did not say in what election they had voted but said they had come from Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties and had been arrested for voting 'because they were convicted of murder or sexual assault.'
Floridians passed a constitutional amendment restoring felons' voting rights after they've after they've served their sentences and paid all fines, fees and restitution, but those convicted of a sex offense or murder are banned from voting forever unless they are granted a pardon to do so.
'They did not go through any process. They did not get their rights restored and yet they went ahead and voted anyways,' DeSantis said. 'That is against the law and now they're going to pay the price for it.'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that 20 people across his state have been charged with voter fraud
The governor did not say in what election they had voted but said they had come from Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties and had been arrested for voting 'because they were convicted of murder or sexual assault'
The governor said the individuals could face a third degree felony with penalties up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison.
DeSantis also said the state is telling all 67 election supervisors to preserve records related to the 2020 elections.
He praised the work of the new Election Crimes and Security Office which began work July 1 to investigate voter fraud and violations of election law. The governor added that further investigations could lead to more charges.
'Now this is only one class of voters that we know have violated the law, there are investigations ongoing into people that have voted in two different jurisdictions, and I imagine you are going to see prosecutions on that,' DeSantis teased. 'We also have folks who are voting who are illegal aliens.'
DeSantis argued that Florida's electoral process was one of the most secure in country in 2020 but touted election integrity measures he signed earlier this year to make the process better. The bill limited ballot drop boxes, strengthened ID requirements and established the Office of Election Crimes and Security.
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