This feels like a recurring nightmare, but here I am, once again sounding the alarm on HB721 for the third time in a single month. To provide context, in 2023, Floridians united to expunge the harassment language from the infamous SB7050 dubbed the “Run, Ron, Run” bill. Given this recent victory, it seemed inconceivable that a bill with identical language we just quashed, now proposed by a Democrat, would gain traction in the 2024 legislative session. Yet, here we are, facing the harsh reality that our lawmakers suffer from collective amnesia. Hence, it falls upon us to remind them, because the stakes are far graver than anyone can realize - unless your perspective is shaped by how it happened in Venezuela and other totalitarian regimes.
Across more than 20 states, efforts are underway to implement what can essentially be deemed as "shut up and don't question these free, fair, and secure elections" clauses aimed at citizen advocates under the guise of anti-harassment bills. Here is the link to see what and where this language is appearing:
Tracker: State Legislation to Protect Election Officials - Public Citizen
Obviously, NO one wishes to be accosted by the negativity of disgruntled individuals but I submit that most people are civil, polite, and tend to keep to themselves. Especially after being beaten down by mask mandates, fear of J6-esque reprisals, and other lawfare tactics. For those who have bravely inquired, investigated or informed an election worker of their duties, this bill will pave the way for their disengagement. However, such are my personal opinions. What is not up for debate is the following:
1. Florida's own January 2024 report from the Office of Election Crimes & Security, spanning over 300 pages, yields not a single instance of documented harassment.
2. A Public Record Request to all 67 counties where 62 counties show NO harassment claims. Gulf, Glades, Marion, Palm Beach and St. Lucie did not respond to the PRR. Here it is, go to page 20.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X4lu0goAuxxKGyUg6jpDc8CFQi5fjnCt/view
3. Existing statutes that cover harassment concerns demonstrating no true legislative rationale such as:
836.12: Covers Elected Officials/SOE's
784.048: Covers Everyone
877.03: regarding Disorderly Conduct and covers everyone
836.05: Threats
104.101: Failure to assist officers at polls.
104.0615 Voter intimidation or suppression prohibited; criminal penalties. (2) A person may not directly or indirectly use or threaten to use force, violence, or intimidation or any tactic of coercion or intimidation to induce or compel an individual to: (d)Refrain from acting as a legally authorized election official or poll watcher. (3)A person may not knowingly use false information to: (c)Induce or attempt to induce an individual to refrain from acting as a legally authorized election official or poll watcher.
Nevertheless, the push for additional legislation persists, pointing towards a concerted effort to suppress citizen oversight and dissent. Florida is the latest battle ground in the plan to seed the fertile ground for lawfare against anyone who dares question the results of any election, like 2024.
What to do?
Call Florida’s House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Tommy Gregory and Toby Overdorf and ask them not to schedule a hearing for this bill or to vote NO on it. This will kill the bill.
Call Florida’s Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Debbie Mayfield, before February 21st: and ask them to vote NO. This will kill the bill on the senate side.
Heavenly Father,
We plead for strength and resolve to safeguard our precious liberties. May all citizens, especially legislators, discern the subtle encroachments on our freedoms. Give them courage to confront them with unwavering determination and to admit judgement errors.
Grant us the fortitude to resist tyranny in all its forms. 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 praise Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.
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Father God, aline 1 and all with you. Amen
This is such great information! The specifics you listed are so helpful in showing there is no need at all for this bill. It is just an unnecessary, chilling, un-American bill.
Here's an example of how this bill would likely be used against citizens who observe wrongdoing on election day, that I mentioned in my email to the Members on the Criminal Justice Committee:
"Hopefully you all saw the terrible conditions that some citizen observers experienced on election day, November 3, 2020, most prominently at the mail-in ballot counting centers in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Aggressively-trained poll workers used every trick in the book to keep these honest observers from seeing the ballots, even to the point of finding ridiculous pretenses to kick them out.
If the unscrupulous poll workers had a law like the one you're considering, I'm sure they would have threatened the citizen observers with a felony charge for harassment by coming within 6 feet due to COVID concerns, or for any made-up, nonsensical reason."