Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has barred the Department of Justice from appearing uninvited at polling stations across the state, stating that such actions could undermine the election process.
On Friday, the Department of Justice announced that it “plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.”
Among them were four counties in Florida; Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Orange County and Osceola County.
However, DeSantis has pushed back on the plan, with his Secretary of State, Cord Byrd, warning that such interference would not be tolerated.
“Department of Justice personnel are not included on the list,” Byrn wrote in an email to Deputy Chief at the U.S. Department of Justice Voting Section, Jasmyn Richardson, according to Florida’s Voice.
“Even if they could qualify as ‘law enforcement’ under section 102.031 (3)(a) of the Florida Statutes, absent some evidence concerning the need for federal intrusion, or some federal statute that preempts Florida law, the presence of federal law enforcement inside polling places would be counterproductive and could potentially undermine confidence in the election,” he continued.
Byrd added that they had “already invoked its authority under section 101.58(2) of the Florida