The state of Florida has been experiencing some potentially illegal law enforcement bullying this week. Residents who allegedly signed a petition to reinstate abortion rights in the state on the November ballot say that law enforcement showed up to their doors in an act of intimidation.
The police involvement comes from a larger investigation launched by Governor Ron DeSantis after the Department of State claimed that the signature-gathering process was fraudulent.
The Petition
The petition was in response to getting the abortion rights amendment on the ballot in November.
The ballot initiative is known as Amendment 4 and would enshrine abortion rights into Florida law. If more than 60% of voters approve the amendment, the procedure will remain legal until the fetus is viable, as determined by the health care practitioner.
Abortion Is a Contentious Issue
Although abortion seems like a hot topic in this election cycle, the majority of Americans are actually in support of the procedure.
According to the Pew Research Center, 63% of Americans across all political and religious spectrums say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
The Petition Was Flagged as Fraudulent
People who had previously signed the petition online found that the issue was being investigated as potential “petition fraud.”
Individuals were then visited by detected investigating the incident and asking for personal information and a copy of the petition that was signed.
Potential Voter Intimidation
Critics of the investigation say that this is just another effort by Florida Republican officials to leverage state resources to try and block the abortion rights measure on the ballot.
A normal person being visited by a SWAT team or several police officers can be an extremely nerve-wracking experience. It amounts to simple voter intimidation and impression in a state that clings to its right-leaning leaders.
Individuals Feel Bullied By the State
A Lee County resident, Becky Castellanos, says that a police officer showed up at his home and flashed his badge before interrogating her family on the signature.
“This is unhinged and undemocratic behavior being pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis to continue our state’s near total abortion ban,” Florida state Representative Anna Eskamani wrote online. “It’s clear voter intimidation and plain corruption—continue to call it out and fight back.”
The DeSantis Administration Has Big Plans
The presence and intimidation by law enforcement officers shows a larger effort by Ron DeSantis and his office, who want to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the abortion referendum petition.
The petition in question garnered more than a million signatures, which is more than enough to qualify for the November ballot.
Election Supervisors Called for the Investigation
The Supervisors of Elections in cities like Tampa, Orlando, Kissimmee, and Palm Beach were ordered to immediately investigate tens of thousands of signatures on the abortion amendment ballot.
Two supervisors in the office say that the order was completely out of the norm for their job description and that they have not done this task before.
One Election Supervisor Spoke Out
Osceola County Supervisor of Elections, Mary Jane Arrington, a Democratic who has been in the position for 16 years, shared her experience.
“I have never in my tenure had a request like this one,” noting that scrutinizing the signatures is not a function of their office in the past.
The Amendment Is Popular In the State
Despite the heavy influence of Republican politics and hardcore Christian values in the state, Amendment 4 currently has 70% support in Florida.
If the amendment passes, access to abortions would become enshrined in the state.
Other Changes on the Amendment
There are some other changes that will come along with Amendment 4.
The campaign has also petitioned to strike state-written language on Amendment 4 from voting information material. The DeSantis administration used deceptive language and made it sound like the abortion rights amendment would negatively impact the state budget.
DeSantis Speaks Out
At a press event on Monday in South Florida, Gov. DeSantis defended sending police to the homes of residents who signed the petition.
In 2022, DeSantis signed a law that allows state police to investigate voter fraud and election crimes. He claims that the signatures on the petition could be fraudulent and it’s the right of the state to investigate those who signed.
