Things are moving quickly on a number of fronts among Florida Democrats and other abortion rights supporters who are fighting back against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ blatant attempts to violate election laws by using government resources to try to prevent passage of a popular abortion rights amendment (Amendment 4) that is on the state’s ballot this fall. The latest move against DeSantis occurred today, when seven of Florida’s eight congressional Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the DeSantis administration over this matter (Rep. Jared Moskowitz is not a signer — not sure why). The letter starts off forcefully:
“We request that you investigate the Florida government’s recent abuses related to Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative, which would restore the right to an abortion up to viability. Governor DeSantis, who has been vocal about his opposition to Amendment 4, has leveraged his government to sabotage, suppress votes, and campaign against it. These actions constitute an abuse of official resources to undermine political opponents. Ensuring the honesty of our elections is of the greatest importance, which is why there are measures in place to ensure the validity of state constitutional amendment votes. The Governor’s undemocratic actions undermine the rights of Floridians
Back in January Florida’s secretary of state certified Amendment 4 for November ballots after the group sponsoring the amendment got nearly 1 million validated petitions in support. Nevertheless, in the past few weeks the Florida Department of State has contacted at least six county elections offices asking them to pull about 37,000 verified signatures for review for potential fraud.
One county supervisor told the Tampa Bay Times the requests were unprecedented. The state’s request focused on verified signatures, not rejected petitions, which have been the basis for past fraud cases.
Despite the fact that the secretary of state already has already verified these signatures, DeSantis has sent out his good squad of election police officers to knock on doors of people whose names they’ve obtained to ask if they indeed signed the petition. It appears to be a clear attempt at voter intimidation, as referenced in the Florida congressional Democrats’ letter to the DOJ:
...Many Floridians who signed the petition have reported that police have come to their house, some with copies of their birth certificates and other official documents related to them, to verify their signature. Residents say that these encounters left them feeling “shaken” and “intimidated.” Election supervisors for the regions these reports originated from were not notified police were knocking doors. A supervisor from an impacted district expressed confusion as to how houses were selected, given the request his office received from the administration was for a single signature.
Democrats are also asking the DOJ to investigate the actions of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for developing and launching a website and relates ads, like this short video, opposing Amendment 4. The website advises viewers, “Don’t let the fearmongers lie to you” and defends current abortion law in Florida while claiming that the proposed amendment “threatens women’s safety.” From the letter to the DOJ:
The page notes that the Amendment, “threatens to expose women and children to health risks,” and lists laws, including sanitation standards, that would supposedly be at risk if the Amendment passes. While the agency says these resources are meant to “combat disinformation,” many experts find the information the ACHA provides to be misleading and biased, equivalent to a “taxpayer funded political ad.
Congressional Democrats’ letter to Garland is the latest salvo in abortion rights supporters fighting back against DeSantis’ election interference with Amendment 4 One lawsuit will be heard by the Florida courts soon on the matter, and others are on the way.
The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to expedite a case involving a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by Palm Beach County attorney Adam Richardson that accuses Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida and Attorney General Ashley Moody of abusing state resources to “sully the election for Amendment 4.”
The ACLU of Florida announced plans on Wednesday to file its own suit within the coming days.
The Florida Supreme Court has ordered state officials named in the lawsuit to file a response to his claims by Sept. 23.
It’s unclear how much, if any, difference DeSantis’ election interference will have on the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, and also unclear if he and his sycophants will be held accountable for their actions. But I’m glad to see Democrats fighting back quickly and forcefully against their clearly illegal efforts to prevent the will of the people from being heard. In general, it’s been heartening to see the rising tide of Floridians rising up against DeSantis’ BS. Here’s hoping this bodes will for November in many ways on the ballot.
If you’re interested, here’s more information on Florida’s Yes on 4 Campaign.
