FL Governor's New Election Police Arrest 20 For Illegally Voting

FLORIDA — Following investigations by the newly created Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 20 people have been arrested by FDLE for breaking Florida’s elections laws, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

DeSantis said all 20 people voted although they were disqualified from voting after being convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense.

In 2018, voters approved Amendment 4 that restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation, with the exception of those convicted of murder or sexual offenses who continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the governor and cabinet restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.

They've been charged with voter fraud, a third-degree felony punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

Most of those arrested live in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, DeSantis said, speaking at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale Thursday.

DeSantis said the elections office is investigating other cases involving Florida voters who cast ballots in two states and foreign nationals who voted in Florida.

See related story: 'Elections Police' Developing Plan To Enforce New Voting Laws

"This is the day we begin taking fraud seriously," said Peter Antonacci, director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security. “Our team of highly skilled investigators will conduct a thorough investigation, and if any evidence of election crime is found, there will be criminal sanctions.”

Additionally, DeSantis ordered the Department of State to instruct the supervisors of election in all 67 Florida counties to preserve voting records until additional reviews and investigations are complete.

“In 2020, Florida ran an efficient, transparent election that avoided the major problems we saw in other states. At the same time, the election was not perfect, which is why we continue our efforts to ensure the integrity of our elections,” said DeSantis. “Our new election crimes office has sprung into action to hold individuals accountable for voter fraud. Today’s actions send a clear signal to those who are thinking about ballot harvesting or fraudulently voting. If you commit an elections crime, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“These arrests put those who have no regard for the integrity our elections on notice and will ensure integrity in the voting process," said Secretary of State and Chief Election Officer Cord Byrd.

Among those arrested was Hillsborough County resident Romona Oliver, who was released from prison after serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder.

She told the Bradenton Herald that she registered to vote in early 2020 at the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's office and answered, "yes," when asked if she had a felony conviction. Nevertheless, the woman helping her with the her form submitted it.

The arrests came as a surprise to voting rights activists who weren't aware that the so-called election police were investigating 2020 voting records under the state's new voting law, Senate Bill 524, passed by the Florida Legislature in April during the 2022 session.

The bill established the Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State, the first state office dedicated to investigating election crimes in Florida.

Although SB 524 became effective once it was signed into law, the bill specifies that the Department of State has until Feb. 1, 2023, to recommend a plan on how to strengthen ID requirements confirming the identities of those who vote by mail-in ballots.

The department must also submit a draft of statutory changes to the House and Senate needed to implement the new elections law by Feb. 1, 2023.

The arrests announced by DeSantis put voters and supervisors of elections offices on notice that the Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security is prepared to scrutinize elections beginning with Tuesday's statewide primary election.