Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB-991 Wednesday, a sweeping elections bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in Florida, with voting rights groups filing a federal lawsuit challenging the measure within minutes of the signing. The legislation, known as the Florida SAVE Act, mandates verification of U.S. citizenship during the voter registration process and strengthens oversight of Florida’s election system.
“Safeguarding the electoral process to improve oversight and prevent unlawful influence has been a top priority for my administration since my first days in office,” said DeSantis when speaking about the new law. “Today I signed the election integrity bill, also known as the Florida SAVE Act. This legislation strengthens the security, transparency, and reliability of Florida’s election system. In Florida, we will always stand up for election integrity.”
“Our Constitution in the state of Florida says only American citizens are allowed to vote in our elections, so we need to make sure that is the law,” the Florida governor said during a press conference. The measure represents the latest in a series of election-related legislation passed under DeSantis’s administration, building on previous voting law changes implemented in recent years.
Democratic State Sen. Shevrin Jones questioned the necessity of the legislation, arguing Florida already operates secure elections. “But at the expense of who? At the expense of voters? You know, last year they said that that was the election integrity bill that the nation should model. So what changes need to be made?” Jones asked. “I think personally this is another not needed bill - we have been known, based on my colleagues who have made it clear, that Florida runs the safest integral elections in the country.”
“There is no need for this, because there wasn’t, still no need for it - talking to some of my Republican colleagues they even said, I don’t even know why we are doing this. Exactly, why are we?” Jones said. The senator warned the legislation could disenfranchise various groups of voters, including college students who will no longer be allowed to use their student identification cards to vote under the new requirements.
Jones raised specific concerns about married women whose current names differ from those on their birth certificates. “That is actually testimony that came up when we were in committee, someone said I am going through a name change currently right now so what does this looks like after this is passed?” Jones said. He also pointed to potential complications for senior citizens who may face challenges meeting the new citizenship verification requirements.
The federal lawsuit filed immediately after the bill signing represents the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle over the new voting requirements. Voting rights groups argue the measure creates unnecessary barriers to voter registration and could prevent eligible citizens from participating in elections due to documentation issues or administrative complications.
The Florida SAVE Act adds another layer to the state’s existing election laws, which have undergone multiple revisions in recent legislative sessions. The measure requires election officials to implement new verification procedures for voter registration applications, potentially affecting thousands of Floridians seeking to register or update their voter information. Legal challenges to the new law are expected to proceed through federal courts in the coming months.