A video released, that was published after investigations conducted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) Office of Election Crimes and Security, shows several people in Hillsborough County, Florida, realizing they may be in trouble for allegedly casting a ballot, as officials target alleged voter fraud.
Reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the arrests took place on August 18, by state police and local officers, the outlet said, adding that among the 19 arrested were 12 registered Democrats. For allegedly registering and voting illegally, the group faces up to five years in prison.
The Times reportedly said-
“They are accused of violating a state law that doesn’t allow people convicted of murder or felony sex offenses to automatically be able to vote after they complete their sentence. A 2018 state constitutional amendment that restored the right to vote to many felons excluded this group.”
“But, as the videos further support, the amendment and subsequent actions by state lawmakers caused mass confusion about who was eligible, and the state’s voter registration forms offer no clarity. They only require a potential voter to swear, under penalty of perjury, that they’re not a felon, or if they are, that their rights have been restored. The forms do not clarify that those with murder convictions don’t get automatic restoration of their rights.”
-The Tampa Bay Times
According to Breitbart News, in January, DeSantis proposed the election integrity unit, to investigate and arrest people accused of voter fraud. And, as a part of his State of the State address, DeSantis explained-
“This will facilitate the faithful enforcement of election laws and will provide Floridians with the confidence that their vote will matter.”
-Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Designed to operate under Florida’s State Department, a few months later, DeSantis signed a bill into law creating the Office of Election Crimes and Security. Following that, in March, according to a report, several Florida counties launched investigations into whether convicted felons, who are not eligible to vote, did so during the 2020 presidential election.
True to his word, DeSantis is holding a line with voting integrity, giving law enforcement and his new task force the job of ferreting out illegal and or fraudulent voting. Hopefully it has and will continue to send a message to Floridians, that they can both expect to be held to account for their actions and that those who vote according to the law, will be able to know that their vote does count. America needs more leaders of vision, like DeSantis. Integrity cannot be bought – you either have it or you don’t.
“The qualities of a great man are “vision, integrity, courage, understanding, the power of articulation, and profundity of character.”
-Dwight Eisenhower