Florida doubles down on politicized ‘voter fraud’ lawsuits

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After Florida courts dismissed several cases against people with past convictions who mistakenly voted while ineligible, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law that seeks to sidestep these rulings and enable statewide prosecutors under his influence to pursue these alleged voter fraud cases. As the Brennan Center and partner organizations warned Florida legislators, the law is a waste of resources given the lack of fraud in U.S. elections. Worse, it risks harshly penalizing citizens who are struggling to navigate the state’s complex voter eligibility rules and discouraging eligible voters — especially Black Floridians — from participating in democracy.

Expanding — and Restricting — Access to the Ballot Box

This week, Minnesota passed a bill that would restore voting rights to thousands of residents with past convictions. It’s among the dozens of states that have made voting access a priority this year.

The new edition of the Brennan Center’s Voting Laws Roundup finds that lawmakers in 34 states have pre-filed or introduced at least 274 bills that would make it easier for Americans to register to vote or cast a ballot — more than twice the number of pro-voting bills introduced in 2022. At the same time, however, lawmakers in 32 states have introduced a record-breaking number of restrictive voting bills, many of which would limit mail voting or impose new voter ID requirements. It’s still too soon to know which ones will become law.

Tackling Excessive Sentences

Thousands of people in federal prison are serving severe, outdated sentences that Congress no longer believes are fair. A 2022 Supreme Court decision that seemed to broaden the availability of reduced prison time has been interpreted inconsistently, extending uncertainty on this issue. In the short term, carefully crafted rules can allow judges to offer relief on a case-by-case basis. But ultimately, ending unjust penalties will require a top-to-bottom rethinking of federal sentencing law.

Closing the Government’s Surveillance Loophole

For more than a decade, federal agencies such as the FBI and CIA have used Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Act — a law that makes it easier to surveil suspected foreign terrorists — to monitor Americans’ phone calls, emails, and text messages without a warrant. With Section 702 up for reauthorization this year, it’s time to overhaul the provision, end domestic spying, and protect our Fourth Amendment rights from government abuse.