Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office of Election Security announced 20 arrests relating to election fraud on Thursday.
According to DeSantis, the arrests resulted from convicted murders and rapists attempting to vote in Florida.
BREAKING NOW: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ANNOUNCES THE ARREST of 20 Individuals For Voter Fraud Across the Sunshine State…
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) August 18, 2022
While voting rights were restored for many convicted felons in Florida after Amendment 4 passed by ballot initiative, people convicted of murder and sexual assault cannot have their voting rights automatically restored.
“They do not have the right to vote, they have been disenfranchised under Florida law. Amendment 4 that passed specifically included people who have been convicted of sexual assault and homicide from being able to have an automatic restoration of their voting rights. They did not go through any process, they did not get their rights restored, and yet they went ahead and voted anyway,” said DeSantis.
WATCH: Ron DeSantis announces his Office of Election Crimes and Security is charging and arresting individuals across the state for voter fraud
"These folks voted illegally… They are disqualified from voting because they have been convicted of either murder or sexual assault!" pic.twitter.com/JhQY2SlOzN
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 18, 2022
DeSantis came under attack by liberal politicans and the media when he created the Office of Election Integrity. Many believed that the office would be a waste of the state government’s funds and time.
DeSantis took a victory lap during his speech at the Broward County Courthouse today, saying that they are holding “people accountable who violated our election laws.”
“We want to make sure we have laws in place, and we want to make sure they’re enforced,” DeSantis said. The election law took effect on July 1, creating the office. “They got the money in the budget…when we did it, there were some naysayers saying ‘oh, what are they going to do, twiddle their thumbs?’ Well I’m here to say, they got in, Pete was named and immediately they went to work. They’re looking to hold people accountable who violated our election laws.”