More Mail-In Voting Restrictions Proposed in FL — But Florida Resident Donald Trump Apparently Flips Position on Drop Boxes

Brian Beihl

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for February 7, 2023

Photo: Bay News 9

Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Politico – Florida eyes more changes to voting laws ahead of 2024
Newsweek – Trump Does Complete 180 on Election Issue
Florida Secretary of State – Report by the Department of State
On Vote-By-Mail Voting – Security, Privacy and Election Transparency

Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters FL, Fair Districts Now,  All Voting is Local FL, Florida Rising, Disability Rights FL

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

After last year’s implementation of an election police force, restriction of drop boxes, and defending the racial gerrymandering of a northern Florida Congressional district, the DeSantis administration is back at it, this time with more restrictions on mail-in voting.

Politico writes that in a 60-page report, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd made a series of recommendations making it harder to vote by mail, which 2.7 million Florida voters – many elderly – used in 2022. Byrd recommends additional ID information, including a full Florida drivers license number, Florida ID card, or the last four digits of a Social Security number be added when submitting an absentee ballot APPLICATION, in addition to requiring it for the ballot. The report also recommends ending the ability to request an absentee ballot application by phone – even for registered voters for whom there has been no change of address.

Signature verification is already used on returned absentee ballots, but Byrd also recommends election officials match signatures on ballot APPLICATIONS as well.

And in a complete about face, Newsweek reports that former President and Florida resident Donald Trump posted his endorsement of ballot drop boxes last week, provided they were behind churches.

A reminder to listeners that incidents of voter fraud are exceptionally rare.

Find the Florida recommendations, the Trump post, and more resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.