DeSantis Announces 20 People Charged with Voter Fraud, Praises Florida’s New Election Crimes Office

August 18, 2022 Updated 3:47 P.M. ET

FORT LAUDERDALE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 20 people across the state have been charged for voter fraud in the 2020 election.

DeSantis said majority of those people illegally voted in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. The governor said they voted illegally in the state because they have been convicted of either murder or sexual assault and do not have the right to vote.

Someone convicted in Florida for murder or sexual offenses can have their right to vote restored by the State Clemency Board.

“And so they did not go through any process. They did not get their rights restored and yet they went ahead and voted anyways,” DeSantis said. “That is against the law and now they’re going to pay the price for it.”

DeSantis said these individuals are in the process of being arrested and could face a third degree felony. That could result in a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison for illegally voting in Florida’s elections.

He praised the new Election Crimes and Security Office that investigates voter fraud and violations of election law. The new office received funding July 1 to operate.

“I also want to be very clear going forward that we’re going to continue to make sure that our laws are rigorously enforced,” DeSantis said.

Attorney General Ashley Moody applauded the state for enforcing its election laws.

“In order for us to remain a country and a state under the rule of law, we must have men and women that are willing to enforce those laws,” Moody said.

Moody called it heartbreaking that polls show 20% of Americans have faith in their elections.

“That skepticism spans party lines and we cannot accept that,” Moody said.

Newly appointed Office of Election Crimes and Security Director Peter Antonacci said people may not think 20 voters is not a lot, but pointed to a south Florida congressional race in 2021 where the election was determined by only five votes. Voters chose Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick over Dale Holness.

“I’m certain that in that tranche of voters there were plenty of illegal ballots cast,” Antonacci said. “And it’s just awfully unfair to the supporters of political candidates, to the candidates, and to the public at large, that this sort of thing has been allowed to go on.”

Department of Law Enforcement Acting Commissioner Mark Glass said agents and analysts have been investigating dozens of voter fraud allegations sent to them from the Department of State.

“They did not just attempt to vote. They actually voted,” Glass said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that those who cannot legally vote, never cast a ballot.”

The governor said there are also separate ongoing investigations into people who have voted in two different jurisdictions in which he expects prosecutions.

“We also have folks who are voting who are illegal aliens, that are not citizens of the United States,” he said. “In Florida’s constitution the only people eligible to vote are US citizens.”

The governor was asked if he was looking into any particular election. The governor said the office would look into statewide elections.

“We think it’s important to make sure that this is done across the board,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis signed legislation in April to establish the Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State. The office is in charge of reviewing reports of alleged election law violations and investigate any violations. The office oversees the department’s voter fraud hotline.