A proposal to tighten voter eligibility rules was approved by the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats who contend seniors and students will be among those blocked from casting a ballot.
The House voted 83-31 on the bill (HB 991), which contains wide-ranging changes to the state election code, including new proof-of-citizenship requirements when registering to vote, reductions to the kind of photo identification cards that can be used at polling locations, and requiring an individual’s legal citizenship status to be posted on drivers’ licenses and ID cards issued by the state.
Fort Myers Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka said her proposal aligns with the will of Florida voters in 2020 that supported a citizens initiative to require Florida statutes declare “only a citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in Florida.
“Election integrity is key and we won’t have integrity in our government or in the laws that we passed, unless we have integrity in our elections,” Persons-Mulicka said. “And it’s what the people of Florida want.”
State statutes previously stated that voting was for “every citizen” that was at least 18 years of age.
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