Tallying scores in Tallahassee
Pass or Fail? A report card keeps track in real-time.
Imagine observing behavior that raises suspicions of malfeasance within the election process. Your attempts to access public records are repeatedly denied, prompting you to persistently visit the supervisor of election’s office in pursuit of information. Dressed in a red tie, blue blazer, and red hat, you question procedures and processes, expressing concerns about potential violations of statutes. Yet, despite your intentions to ensure electoral integrity, your actions are met with resistance, and you find yourself facing accusations of harassment.
Unfortunately, the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Florida House has just voted “YES” to HB721. This bill proposes that a person who “harasses” an election worker can face felony or misdemeanor charges. The crux of the matter lies in the interpretation of the term "harassment" within legal frameworks. Unlike coercion, threats, or intimidation, which often have clear-cut definitions, "harass" is a term fraught with ambiguity. What constitutes harassment in one context may be perceived as vigilant oversight in another, making it a subjective and malleable concept within legal discourse.
Thanks to the oversight of citizens, in 2023, such language was struck from HB7050 and the election security movement in Florida dodged a bullet. This session, the Florida Supervisors of Election once again lobbied to codify the behavior of Floridians … and HB721 has got past the first subcommittee.
Legislators need to be aware of the nuances inserted in these bills, the ones on the Criminal Justice subcommittee were not. The next stop is the Ethics, Election and Open Government Subcommittee. The obvious first demand is to remove the word “harass”. However, is the entire bill even necessary? Are citizens not allowed to demand behavior, information, records, and results from the very officials whose salaries are paid for by our taxes? How about enforcing the existing laws which already prohibit intimidation and other unbecoming behavior? Why should there be a special law for Election Workers?
What is next? Are lobbying groups also going to codify the behavior of a patient demanding proper hospital care? Or of a parent demanding school boards be accountable for the books and subjects being taught to our children? Apparently, requesting what is rightfully ours may be consider harassment.
On the bigger picture, despite the strong grassroots advocacy, several election security bills have lackluster support at the House leadership level. Specifically HB359 and HB1669, which have been strongly endorsed by advocates, are not even on the subcommittee calendars. Ramba Consulting, who lobbies for the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association, was able to get HB721 heard in a timely fashion, which says something about the power of the lobbyists. The question is: does that power stem from relationships or something else? And who is funding the FSE which is a NGO? Just askin’.
In the past decades, due to our collective negligence in engaging with the mechanisms of our own governance, we now face the daunting task of playing catch-up. Yet, amidst this challenge, our current crisis has awakened the citizenry and ignited a newfound vigilance. Here is a tool that will be updated in real-time, tracking the passage of elections bills as they navigate through the committees.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ywwnl8C4TXMP7z_JjmeitrttlbBZ1-_s/view?usp=drivesdk
Based on this scorecard, legislators can see what bills we support or oppose, while we will keep tabs on their votes. Ultimately, we will be able to determine if they pass or fail the report card on election security.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Thomas Jefferson
God our Father,
We give thanks for those who are occupying the gaps between our freedoms and our governance. As we navigate the complexities of political advocacy, grant us clarity of purpose and strength of spirit.
We pray for our legislators. Illuminate their path with wisdom and insight, that they may discern truth from falsehood, and act with integrity in all their endeavors. Bless them with the fortitude to stand for what is right, even in the midst of uncertainty and turmoil.
May our actions be guided by love and our intentions be pure, as we endeavor to create a world where all beings may flourish and thrive.
In Jesus’ Holy name.
Amen.
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Well done Praying Mantis! But the answer to who is paying the FSE and Ramba Consulting is very obvious--the corrupt voting industry companies like Dominion and Cathedral which are payed with our tax dollars to buy voting machines and voting services through the SOEs and SOS. Then these dirty companies pay Ramba to lobby using the FSE as cover for their actions. In essence we are funding them to control our elections. So damn corrupt!
This is the Florida uniparty's answer to citizens presenting evidence and asking for changes so we can have honest, transparent elections. The "free state" of Florida is just another DeSantis campaign slogan.