Latest news with #SenateCommitteeonEthicsandElections
Axios
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Florida lawmakers seek to ban state funding of amendment ads
The latest example of Republican lawmakers pushing back on Gov. Ron DeSantis has emerged in an unlikely place: legislation cracking down on citizen-led ballot initiatives, which is a DeSantis priority. State of play: A Republican-controlled Senate committee is seeking to ban the use of state funds on campaigns to support or oppose constitutional amendments. Why it matters: The measure — part of a larger elections bill that adds restrictions to citizen-led amendment drives — comes after the DeSantis administration used state resources to criticize amendments that sought to legalize recreational marijuana and expand abortion access. The tacit criticism of DeSantis' tactics comes after GOP lawmakers openly feuded with the governor over immigration legislation — the first time he has faced such strident intraparty conflict in Tallahassee. State of play: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections on Monday advanced a proposal that would bar public funding from being used "to publish, broadcast or disseminate public service messages concerning an amendment or a revision on the ballot." Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) tacked the amendment onto Senate Bill 7016, a package of sweeping reforms to the petition-gathering process. What they're saying:"This in no way prohibits public service messaging campaigns from the state," Bradley said, per the Florida Phoenix. But "when they cross over into attempting to influence the outcome of a ballot measure, I think that we're then trending into territory that makes me very uncomfortable as a conservative who is very concerned about what our role of government is in a democratic society." Flashback: Last year, the state Agency for Health Care Administration published a webpage with debunked criticisms of Amendment 4, which would have enshrined abortion in the state constitution. Supporters of a recreational pot ballot measure also accused the governor of trying to sway voters after state agencies ran anti-marijuana public service announcements in the weeks leading up to the election. Both amendments won majority support but failed to reach 60% as state law requires for passage. The other side: DeSantis previously denied trying to sway voters, saying the material put out by state agencies was factual and intended to inform Floridians. Yes, but: The ban advanced by the Senate committee applies "regardless of whether the public service messages are limited to factual information."
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election supervisors say verified voters should be able to maintain vote-by-mail requests
The Brief Elections supervisors in Florida are asking state lawmakers to revamp laws surrounding mail-in ballot requests. The current law, passed in 2021, mandates that voters renew their mail-in ballot requests every two years. Officials say that law has led to a big drop in vote-by-mail participation. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A significant decline in mail-in ballot requests is prompting Florida election supervisors to call for legislative changes. Why you should care The decrease comes after a 2021 law mandating that voters renew their mail-in ballot requests every two years, leading to confusion and reduced participation. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections in Tallahassee on Tuesday, election officials outlined the impact of the 2021 legislation on recent special congressional primaries. In the primary for Congressional District 1, requests for mail-in ballots fell nearly 90% compared to the previous year. Similarly, in Lake County's District 6 primary, there was a 75% decline in requests. The 2021 law requires county election supervisors to purge mail-in ballot requests every two years. Voters must now provide personal identification details, such as a driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, when requesting a mail-in ballot. Previously, voters could opt to receive mail-in ballots for up to four years by selecting a checkbox on their ballot envelope—a feature that has since been removed. The removal of this option has led to widespread confusion among voters, who were unaware of the need to submit new requests. READ: Governor DeSantis unveils $115.6B proposed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year What they're saying David Ramba, representing the Florida Supervisors of Elections, noted that officials have received numerous complaints from individuals surprised by the absence of their expected mail-in ballots. "We've now redone the voting rolls twice," Ramba told lawmakers on Tuesday. "It's extremely expensive and staff intensive to go and recruit and let everybody know and educate them that their vote by mail has expired. So one of our priorities is to advocate bringing back a way to allow for the voter to choose that when they return their ballot." The Florida Supervisors of Elections Association is urging lawmakers to reinstate the checkbox on mail-in ballot envelopes, incorporating the new identification requirements. They believe this change is essential to facilitate voter participation and reduce administrative burdens. "Our theory is if (voters) had the luxury of checking a box in that general election return ballot that said, 'please keep my vote by mail request valid,' Then we could have continued to send them their vote by mail ballot for the special election," said Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays, a Republican. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What's next Election supervisors are hopeful that these proposed adjustments will be enacted during the upcoming legislative session to ensure a more accessible and efficient voting process for all Floridians. The recommendations underscore the ongoing debate in balancing election security with voter accessibility. The Source Information for this story was collected by FOX 13's Matthew McClellan. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
