Though Ervin’s case has been resolved, critics of Florida’s policies fear that many other people are still being targeted under the state’s harsh laws and aggressive enforcement. Ervin’s arrest by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was made based on information provided by the state’s Office of Election Crimes and Security. This agency, created in 2022 at the behest of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, has “the stated purpose to improve election integrity in Florida” based on the idea that voter fraud is a significant problem in the state.

Critics argue the new agency is intended to intimidate voters and is yet another step in the state’s long-held strategy of disenfranchising people with felony convictions. For example, even though Florida voters approved a measure to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who had completed their sentences, the state government — led by DeSantis — carved out a loophole to continue disenfranchising thousands of people who could not pay court fees or restitution related to their convictions. Such moves, which disproportionately impact people of color in the state, are seen as part of a pattern to restrict voting and criminalize honest mistakes.

As DeSantis continues to run a presidential campaign based on his image as an aggressively conservative governor, these crackdowns will likely continue. Meanwhile, Floridians who make honest mistakes while trying to vote in good faith after serving felony sentences will have to be even more careful about their eligibility if these policies remain in place.

voter fraud

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