Two years ago, voter reform and election security was a top priority for Republicans around the nation. In Florida, Senate Bill 90 imposed drastic changes to Florida election laws that could have a major impact on the 2024 election.
SB 90 was a politically contentious bill. The legislation, which was done in most red states, sought to secure elections as a response to the 2020 election that former President Trump (R) slammed as rigged. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) eagerly signed the bill into law.
The bill was not without its critics though, as prominent Democrats compared the legislation to racist policies of the American South after the Civil War. Then-Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried (D) called a similar bill in Georgia, "Jim Crow on Steroids," and accused the GOP legislation of being, "Jim Crow in the 21st Century." Several attempts were made at paralleling the bill with poll taxes, an effort made to stop African Americans from voting in the Reconstruction Era.
Th bill, which cracked down on mail-in-voting should see changes in communities like Lee County. Only 23,000 voters in Lee County have requested a new vote by mail ballot. Election officials are concerned about the low numbers.
Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said about 50% of the county votes by mail. In the 2022 general election, that amounted to 212,000 voters. "We would like to see about 250,000 or more people request their vote by mail. What I’ve always said is for people to request their vote by mail, even if they plan to go to the polls because it’s an insurance policy in case we have something happen like Hurricane Ian."
While insults towards SB 90 may be inflammatory, the law will have an effect on voting outcomes that Florida has not yet seen. Political commentaries should be directed towards how well the bill has secured election integrity as Republicans have set out to do.
