Gov. DeSantis announces 20 felons charged with voter fraud across Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that 20 individuals across Florida are being charged with voting fraud.

"This is something we take very seriously as a state," DeSantis said in lauding the work of his new Office of Election Crimes and Security that was part of legislation he pushed.

'Wannabe dictator' or bold leader? DeSantis’ removal of prosecutor ignites range of reactions

DeSantis sued: Tampa prosecutor Andrew Warren sues DeSantis to regain job, says First Amendment rights violated

DeSantis said most of the voters being charged with fraud are residents of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties and were in the process of being arrested Thursday. The charges are being lodged in five different judicial districts across the state.

Those targeted are felons convicted of murder or sex offenses who voted in 2020 but were ineligible. Florida passed a constitutional amendment restoring felons voting rights after they served their sentences and paid all fines, fees and restitution.

Certain offenses were excluded from automatic rights restoration, though. The 20 voters targeted committed offenses that precluded automatic voting rights restoration. They are being charged with third degree felonies and face up to five years in prison.

"They did not go through an process, they did not get their rights restored, and yet they went ahead and voted anyway," DeSantis said.

DeSantis has dodged questions about whether he believes former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of massive voting fraud in the 2020 election, but under pressure from Trump supporters DeSantis pushed through a pair of bills over the last two years making changes to Florida's election laws.

One of those bills established a controversial new election security force. Democrats opposed the legislation over concerns that the office will be politicized to target left-leaning voters.

The charges announced Thursday are the first investigations conducted by the election security force, which launched on July 1.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running in the Democratic primary for governor, called DeSantis press conference a "voter intimidation rally."

"Ron DeSantis went to Broward County today for one reason and one reason only — to intimidate voters and suppress turnout in the most Democratic counties in Florida," Fried said.

"Everybody wants elections to be secure," Fried continued. "But Ron DeSantis — who has never refuted Donald Trump's Big Lie— is the last person we can trust with 'election police.' As governor, I will disband this force and return jurisdiction back to local authorities."

Approximately 11 million people voted in the 2020 presidential election in Florida and Trump carried the state by 372,000 votes.

The 20 charges announced Thursday represent a tiny fraction of Florida's 2020 presidential vote.

"This is the opening salvo, this is not the sum total of 2020," DeSantis said, promising more prosecutions. "Now I do think we did do a good job."

DeSantis noted later in the press conference that: “Most elections are going to be outside the margin where some of this stuff is going to matter."

Regardless, investigations are ongoing into possible fraud during the 2020 election, DeSantis said.

The governor said election officials in all 67 counties are being notified to preserve records from the 2020 election.

"They need to make sure to preserve all the documentation until all these investigations are complete," DeSantis said.

Follow Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson on Twitter at @zacjanderson. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces voter fraud charges