Gov. Ron DeSantis’ election police have questioned some Florida voters who signed a petition in support of Amendment 4, which would protect a woman’s right to an abortion in the state constitution.
The governor confirmed the investigation and defended the tactics during a news conference on Monday in Miami Lakes.
District 42 state Rep. Anna Eskamani called the tactic an erosion of democracy.
“Going from door to door is also scaring people from ever wanting to sign a petition again,” Eskamani said.
People claiming to be Florida's election police are visiting Southwest Florida voters’ homes and questioning a petition they signed.
One Fort Myers man brought light to the issue when he announced on Facebook that it happened to him.
Some Florida voters who oppose the state's six-week abortion ban signed a petition to get abortion on the ballot and now they are being visited by the state's election police. Eskamani is calling for an investigation into the matter.
Isaac Menasche said on social media that he got a knock on the door from a man carrying a folder with about 10 pages of his personal information including a copy of a petition he had signed.
"It was obvious to me that a significant effort was exerted to determine if indeed I had signed the petition,” Menashce stated.
A petition he indeed signed to get abortion rights on the ballot. However, he was unsure why his signature was being questioned.
“This really is part of an insidious operation that Governor Ron DeSantis and his cronies to silence people's voices,” Eskamani continued.
The Democrat from the Orlando area claims the state is trying to prove signatures may have been gathered fraudulently.
But when asked what the point would be since the matter is already being printed on statewide ballots she responded it was political theater.
“The reality is that the republican party of Florida already has television ads out right now accusing Amendment 4 of being fraudulent,” Eskamani said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis admitted in Miami Monday that the state's election police were investigating fraud and when asked if it could be intimidating he said no.
"Anyone who submitted accurately that's a valid voter is totally within their rights to do. They're not investigating that. What they're investigating is fraudulent petitions," DeSantis said.
NBC2 reached out to FDLE, Florida Department of State with questions however they did not respond or return our calls.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said the investigation caught him by surprise too.
“I had no idea there was any type of an investigation,” Doyle responded.
When asked if he should have been made aware that the state agency was in town questioning people, he responded it would have been nice.
“We could have told them it was legit. And law enforcement is doing an investigation,” Doyle said.
At least two people have come forward to say they were questioned about petition fraud and NBC2 is working to learn if any others who signed the petition were visited by officers.
“It's shameful behavior and abuse of power. It's corruption and really hope Floridians see through it,” Eskamani concluded.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Monday her office is looking into whether a federal voting rights investigation should be undertaken.
There are just weeks to go before voters start voting on Amendment 4, which the governor opposes.
Anyone who receives a knock on the door from someone who claims to be the state election police, they are advised to make sure the person identifies themselves and displays a badge when asked to.