FL Bill Would Ban Campaigns From Giving Voters Water At Polls

FLORIDA — A Republican state representative is urging the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would prevent special interest groups and campaign staff from approaching voters standing in line at polling places with offers of food and water.

State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill filed House Bill 7041 last week that, among other provisions, would require solicitors to stay 150 feet away from voters waiting to cast their ballots, amending the current law requiring a 50-foot setback.

Ingoglia's amendment shadows one recently approved by Georgia Republicans and signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Civil liberties advocates have condemned the new law, saying it's an attempt to suppress voters.

Ingoglia said his bill has also been misconstrued as a measure designed to discourage voting.
He said his intent is to prevent people from harassing voters while they're stuck in line.

“When asked the question (in a committee hearing): ‘Does this mean giving out food or water?’ I answered, ‘Yes – that would be solicitation,'" Ingoglia said. "Suddenly, that's the headline."

He said the real headline should be: “Florida Republicans Protect Voters In Line To Vote From Unwanted Solicitation.”

"There is nothing preventing people from handing out water or food beyond the 150-foot boundary. It's a no-solicitation provision meant to stop people from bothering voters waiting in line."

He said harassment at the polls has become a major problem. Candidates and special interest groups attempt to curry favor with voters by sending pallets of free bottled water and pizza deliveries to polling places to hand out to voters in line. He said they distribute hot dogs wrapped campaign literature disguised as napkins

He said his bill in no way prevents voters from slaking their thirst. They simply have to ask someone to save their place in line while they walk beyond the 150-foot barrier and grab a bottle of water.

Ingoglia's bill is among a series of election reform bills under consideration around the country following former President Donald Trump's assertion that the election was stolen from him through the mass mailing of vote-by-mail ballots that resulted in duplicate and fraudulent ballots being counted.

According to the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice, Republicans in 33 states have introduced 165 bills calling for measures that would restrict voter access.

Ingoglia’s bill is the fifth Republican-sponsored election reform bills submitted to the Florida Legislature this year with the encouragement of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a longtime Trump supporter.

"We are taking action to ensure that Florida remains a leader on key issues regarding our electoral process, such as ballot integrity, public access to election information, transparency of election reporting and more," DeSantis said.

See related story: Mass Mailings Of FL Ballots Outlawed Under DeSantis Election Bill

However, Democrats and civil liberties advocates say the so-called election reform bills are a blatant attempt to suppress voter participation.

"Florida's 2020 election was by all accounts a success, and we should be building on it by making it easier for Floridians to make their voices heard, not harder," U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, said. "Gov. DeSantis's proposal goes in the wrong direction. It's a nakedly partisan political play."

The election reform bills have also raised the hackles of the Florida Supervisors of Elections, an association of Florida's 67 elections officials, who say there are plenty of safeguards to ensure the integrity of elections.

"While I believe allegations of voter fraud should always be investigated, I have learned through research and speaking to my colleagues that true voter fraud is isolated and infrequent," said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. "To allege that massive voter fraud influenced the 2020 results at a time when our elections have never been more secure, is duplicitous."

"In 2020, Florida was universally praised for our exemplary conduct of elections — from the very highest offices at the federal and state level to our most important stakeholders-voters," said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer. "This was due in large part to the strong laws currently in place around vote by mail. With every deep state conspiracy and illegitimate claim of fraud, our democracy sinks deeper and deeper into divisiveness."

Ingoglia's 45-page bill also includes a number of measures he said are designed to eliminate duplicate copies of ballots, secure ballot drop boxes and prevent voter fraud including:

• Requiring convicted felons to affirm on their voter registration applications that they have had their voting rights restored.
• Directing the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to help the Department of State check the addresses on driver's licenses and identification cards and report any changes to the supervisor of elections office, which then must change the voter's registration records.
• Fining voting registration organizations $50 to $1,000 if they fail to submit applications to elections offices within 14 days after receiving them.
• Making it a second-degree felony to copy or forge a voter's signature
• Mandating that an elections employee or law enforcement officer be posted at drop boxes to make sure the voter's address matches the address on the ballot.
• Having voters dropping off ballots at drop boxes declare under penalty of perjury that he or she is the voter named on the return envelope.