JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County’s top elections official is weighing in on a newly signed Florida law that will require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, a move supporters said would strengthen election security and critics argue could create confusion.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Florida SAVE Act into law this week, describing it as a measure to safeguard the electoral process and improve oversight of the state’s voting system.
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Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said election fraud has not been a widespread issue locally, though he noted even a small number of questionable votes can matter in close races.
“From a size standpoint, it’s not a big issue, but we’ve had elections as tight as two votes,” Holland said. “You can never say it won’t impact an election.”
According to Holland, about 120 votes have been questioned in Duval County over the past three years.
Under the new law, current registered voters will not need to take additional steps to prove citizenship unless they are notified by the state. Holland emphasized that voters will not be required to show proof of citizenship at polling places.
Instead, the requirement will apply during the voter registration process. Citizenship verification will be tied to records handled through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which uses a federal system to confirm eligibility when issuing or updating identification.
The law also tightens rules on acceptable voter identification, eliminating some forms such as student IDs.
Voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the ACLU, Florida Rising, Common Cause and the Hispanic Federation, have challenged the law in court. A federal lawsuit has already been filed seeking to block its implementation.
Rebecca Black, an immigration attorney, said the new requirements could create hurdles for some voters.
“It’ll create problems for people who don’t have their birth certificates or don’t know how to get them,” Black said. “It also creates challenges for people who have changed their names.”
Black added that in her experience, cases of noncitizens voting are extremely rare. She said the law could disproportionately affect elderly residents and minority communities who may have limited access to necessary documents.
The SAVE Act is scheduled to take effect in January 2027 and will not impact the November midterm elections.