Florida governor signs voting restrictions into law, making the state the latest to add hurdles to voting
By Amy Gardner and Lori Rozsa The Washington Post,Updated May 6, 2021, 9:47 p.m.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a news conference at West Miami Middle School in Miami on Tuesday.MATIAS J. OCNER/Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday enthusiastically embraced former president Donald Trumpâs demand for tougher election laws, signing into law a slew of new voting restrictions in a staged live broadcast despite previously touting how smoothly his stateâs elections ran last fall.
Lawsuit filed minutes after DeSantis signs elections bill into law
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Surrounded by lawmakers, Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis speaks at the end of a legislative session, Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Posted at 5:51 AM, May 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-06 11:53:11-04
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. â Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida s elections reform bill into law on Thursday morning and minutes later a lawsuit was filed alleging the new law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
DeSantis signed SB90, which includes restrictions on voting by mail and ballot drop boxes.
The bill-signing event, which was closed to local media and took place live on Fox News, was held at the Hilton by Palm Beach International Airport.
Voter, civil rights groups file suit against Florida over controversial election changes
Two lawsuits filed alleging racial discrimination, attempt to impede access to voting
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FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, file photo, an election worker stamps a vote-by-mail ballot dropped off by a voter before placing it in an official ballot drop box before at the Miami-Dade County Board of Elections in Doral, Fla. Ballot drop boxes were enormously popular during the 2020 election, with few problems reported. Yet they have drawn the attention of Republican lawmakers in key states who say security concerns warrant new restrictions. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
DeSantis gives Fox exclusive of him signing election bill
TALLAHASSEE Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, continuing his ongoing feud with most of the “corporate media,” on Thursday signed into law a contentious election bill during an event where only Fox News was allowed to observe.
DeSantis’s decision to sign the measure, which puts in restrictions on mail-in ballot collections and the use of drop boxes, was already well-known ahead of time. Over the last several days, the Republican governor publicly touted the measure, which the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature approved by a largely party line vote last week.
Before DeSantis approved the legislation, his staff barred other reporters from attending the West Palm Beach event that also included some of the legislators who backed the bill as well as political supporters.
Gov. DeSantis signs election bill in West Palm Beach
SB 90 tightens rules for ballot drop boxes and mail-in ballots Share Updated: 8:01 PM EDT May 6, 2021 By News Service of Florida
Gov. DeSantis signs election bill in West Palm Beach
SB 90 tightens rules for ballot drop boxes and mail-in ballots Share Updated: 8:01 PM EDT May 6, 2021
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Show Transcript I THINK IT’S A GREAT BILL TERRY I THINK. GOING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THE CONSTITUENTS HERE ON THE TREASURE COAST REALLY MADE IT KNOWN THAT THAT ELECTION INTEGRITY WAS A CRITICAL ISSUE TO THEM IS BAD LEGISLATION. IT PERPETUATES THE BIG LIE AND AS SOMEONE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT AND IT WAS A VERY VOCAL CRITIC AGAINST IT I REMAIN OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY LAWSUITS OVERTURNING THIS DISAGREEMENT ALONG PARTY LINES TO AMONG A NATIONAL GROUPS THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SAYING IN A STATEMENT TO PUT IT SIMPLY THESE REFOR