DeSantis Accused of Using ‘Election Police’ Against Abortion Rights Supporters

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing widespread criticism for an election-related initiative that seems to target voters who signed a petition supporting an abortion rights amendment on the state’s ballots this fall. This proposed amendment directly opposes legislation signed by DeSantis, which restricts abortion at just six weeks of pregnancy, before many individuals are even aware they are pregnant.

Previously, DeSantis’s administration deployed law enforcement to investigate formerly incarcerated individuals accused of voting illegally, with most of these charges ultimately dropped. Now, authorities appear to be visiting the homes of citizens who participated in the recent petition drive that successfully advanced Amendment 4 to November’s ballot. This amendment seeks to guarantee the right to abortion care in Florida’s constitution.

In an unusual move, Florida’s secretary of state ordered elections supervisors in at least four counties to re-examine about 36,000 petition forms that had already received verification several months ago.

Furthermore, a state agency under the governor’s direction has created a website and established social media accounts advocating against the amendment. This has led to accusations against DeSantis of misusing state resources and taxpayer funds to lobby against an issue that has garnered significant public support.

In response, Democratic leaders and abortion rights organizations are preparing to take legal action against the governor. “These are petitions that were already approved and completed properly,” stated Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “This intimidation tactic is clearly designed to undermine the democratic process.”

Wasserman Schultz expressed concern that DeSantis’s actions may violate federal civil rights laws and mentioned that a federal investigation is a possibility being discussed.

Nikki Fried, chair of Florida’s Democratic Party, condemned the governor’s tactics, claiming he is utilizing illegal strategies to suppress voter participation. She noted that DeSantis is pressuring local supervisors for signatures already certified, intimidating those who signed the abortion petitions, and has even set up an unlawful government website aimed at discrediting Amendment 4.

“They can’t win on the issue, so they resort to lies and intimidation,” Fried asserted. Democratic state Representative Anna Eskamani added, “We have some of the best legal minds in the country on this, and legal battles are definitely expected.”

The Florida Department of State released a statement asserting that officials discovered “evidence of illegal conduct with fraudulent petitions.” The spokesperson emphasized their responsibility to pursue justice for any Florida citizens affected by fraudulent activities and to maintain the integrity of elections in the state.

During an unrelated press briefing, DeSantis defended the involvement of state agencies in this matter, asserting that their social media messages and website were “above board” and not tantamount to electioneering. He maintained that the so-called election police were justified, voicing concerns that the petitions included signatures from “dead voters” and signatures that did not align with those found in voter databases.

“It’s possible that some people simply signed their names, and if that’s what you suggest, then I think that’s probably the end of it,” DeSantis remarked. He alleged that “a lot of unsavory activity” seems to be occurring.

However, Democrats argue that the petitions had previously gone through rigorous reviews from local election offices and were validated by both Democratic and Republican officials alike. “All of this appears to be a disguise for a witch hunt,” asserted Florida state Representative Fentrice Driskell. “If there had been any genuine fraud allegations, those would have come to light much earlier in the process. They have nothing viable to support their claims—they’re merely putting on a show.”

While DeSantis traveled nationally to promote his failed presidential campaign, a coalition named Floridians Protecting Freedom successfully gathered around 1 million signatures in January, securing a place for Amendment 4 on the ballot.

Voters will soon face a critical decision on whether the constitution should be amended to state that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has publicly declared his opposition to the amendment, despite stating that he disagrees with Florida’s six-week abortion ban.

After receiving significant funding from the state budget for his Office of Election Crime and Security, DeSantis initiated a broad crackdown on alleged voter fraud, with the high-profile arrest of 20 individuals in 2022.

However, extensive reviews of court records and police reports indicate many targeted individuals were informed by election officials that they were eligible to vote. Virtually all the charges against these individuals were later dismissed, yet the ordeal had lasting impacts on their lives, including job losses and disrupted healthcare.

Many of those arrested expressed confusion regarding the charges, emphasizing that they never intended to commit any wrongdoing and believed they had been granted voting rights due to a recent constitutional amendment. Wasserman Schultz recalled the painful nature of the police camera videos capturing those arrests, drawing parallels to the current situation faced by abortion supporters.