DeSantis Signs Bill Creating Florida Elections Police Agency

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday establishing a new, first-of-its-kind elections police agency to investigate voter fraud allegations as well as other election violations or irregularities. It's the latest in a line of recent bills on hot-button issues signed into law in Florida.

The bill, Senate Bill 524, creates the Office of Election Crimes and Security under the direction of the Department of State. The new agency will be tasked with conducting preliminary investigations into accusations of voter fraud and other election law violations as well as submitting an annual report to the state outlining each allegation.

"At the end of the day we want to be in a situation where everyone knows the rules," DeSantis said at a news conference before signing the bill. "I think this office will be much appreciated and will allow us to have people who really specialize in election security and election integrity."

The bill also increased the penalty for what DeSantis called ballot harvesting from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. In the bill, ballot harvesting refers to distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting delivering or possessing more than two mail-in ballots in an election that do not belong to an immediate family member.

Senate Bill 524 also removes every reference of ballot drop boxes in the Florida Statute, replacing the phrase with secure ballot intake station, continuing a trend of lawmakers from several states attempting to roll back voting measures implemented in the 2020 election.

Another sweeping Florida election law curtailing drop boxes for mail-in ballots was struck down in part by a federal judge last month. DeSantis referenced the ruling, saying supporters of the law were "dinged," at Monday's news conference and expressed confidence moving forward.

"We're going to win on appeal," DeSantis said.

The new election law is one of several passed in the state over the past month that target hot-button issues for Republicans.

Last week, the Florida House approved new congressional redistricting maps drawn by DeSantis and also passed Senate Bill 4C, which will dissolve several independent special districts in the state, including The Walt Disney Co.'s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Last month, DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill, colloquially known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Shortly after, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the bill, and the company said in a statement it would support organizations attempting to get the law overturned.

The comments sparked the ongoing showdown between DeSantis and the media giant.