Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has just signed one of the most controversial bills to be sent to his desk from the GOP-led legislature during the 2021 legislative session —the SB 90 voter integrity bill.
The measure, which was sponsored by State Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) and creates new provisions for voter security in response to the previous presidential election, was signed live on Fox News network's "Fox and Friends" morning program.
Gov. DeSantis highlighted many features of the bill, including voter ID regulation for voting by mail, creating limits on who can pick up and return a voter's ballot, and banning private funding for elections, also known as "Zuckerbucks" after it was known that Facebook Chairman Mark Zuckerberg helped fund elections across the country.
"Florida, your vote counts, your vote is going to be cast with integrity and transparency and this is a great place for democracy," said DeSantis earlier today.
Although the news to have secure elections should excite the many Americans who believe the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump (R), the news was not exactly welcomed by everyone.
The Lincoln Project, which most of the GOP has branded as traitors, tweeted about the recent signing, simply calling the legislation, "Shameful."
Shameful. https://t.co/3K6SOz5jNf
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) May 6, 2021
The bill has also been met with criticism of the other side of the aisle, as expected. Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried (D-FL), a probable challenger against DeSantis' re-election, compared the bill to Jim Crow laws, while the governor continues to describe the legislation as "fair and transparent."
One key compromise in the bill is the issue of ballot drop boxes. DeSantis wanted them scrapped altogether, but the legislature still saw them as useful. so the bill calls for the boxes to be manned and only placed out during certain voting hours.
The Palm Beach bill signing event was closed to the press.
