'Horrifying': New clause quietly added to probation forms could help DeSantis 'voter fraud' pursuit

港澳天下彩Public Media | By Lawrence Mower

Published October 31, 2022 at 5:38 PM EDT

FILE - Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses attendees during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on July 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Newly released police bodycam footage shows that three of the 20 people who were arrested in Florida for allegedly voting illegally in the 2020 election appeared to be surprised that they had done anything wrong. The recordings, made by local police and obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, were published Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, after DeSantis announced charges against the suspects in August as the first major public move of his controversial election police unit. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) — FILE - Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses attendees during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on July 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.

A week after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the arrests of 20 people for alleged voter fraud, his administration quietly made a change that some say could help the state go after more people.

Starting in August, Floridians on probation have been required to sign an updated form placing the burden on them to determine if they鈥檙e eligible to vote.

Beneath warnings about remaining drug-free and reporting to their probation officer is the new message: 鈥淏y signing this letter,鈥� the updated form states, 鈥測ou agree that you are solely responsible for determining if you are legally able to register to vote and that you must solely determine if you are lawfully qualified to vote.鈥�