New Florida voting rules could change what you bring to the polls

Florida is changing how residents register to vote after a new law was signed on Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in The Villages that changes how residents register to vote and cast ballots in Florida.

The new law requires proof of citizenship during voter registration and mandates a photo ID at polling locations.

The state says these changes are intended to enhance election security.

Although the law has been signed, the new rules are not scheduled to go into effect until after the 2026 election.

When voters go to the polls to cast their ballots, they will be required to show a Florida photo ID, such as a Florida driver’s license.

A group has already filed a legal challenge against the new law.

The lawsuit asks a court to strike down the measure and block the state from enforcing the proof of citizenship requirement.

“What happens on all of these is that I sign it, they sue us. They go to a liberal judge. The liberal judge sides with them; then we appeal and then we win,” DeSantis said.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the changes to polling place requirements.

State Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, said the law alters requirements for voters who have already completed the registration process.

“We are changing what you bring with you to the polls, after you have gone through the process of registering and you are accepted,” Polsky said.

The legal challenge seeking to block the citizenship requirement will move through the court system in the interim.

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