Florida House Approves New Voting Eligibility Rules

Critics argue the changes create additional hurdles for some voters, calling it a "poll tax by paperwork"

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Florida House has approved a bill that imposes new proof-of-citizenship requirements when registering to vote, reduces the types of photo ID that can be used at polling locations, and requires an individual's legal citizenship status to be posted on driver's licenses and ID cards. Democrats argue the changes will block seniors, students, and others from casting a ballot.

Why it matters

The bill is part of a broader push by Republican lawmakers in Florida to tighten voting rules, which they say is necessary to ensure election integrity. However, critics contend the new requirements will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and make it harder for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote.

The details

The bill (HB 991) contains wide-ranging changes to Florida's election code, including new proof-of-citizenship requirements when registering to vote and reducing the types of photo ID that can be used at polling locations. It also requires the state to include an individual's legal citizenship status on driver's licenses and ID cards starting in 2027. While supporters say the changes align with the will of Florida voters, Democrats argue the new rules will create additional hurdles for certain groups like married women, seniors, and minorities born when records were less digitally maintained.

  • The Florida House voted 83-31 to approve the bill on February 26, 2026.

The players

Jenna Persons-Mulicka

A Republican state representative from Fort Myers who sponsored the bill, arguing it is necessary to ensure election integrity.

RaShon Young

A Democratic state representative from Orlando who criticized the bill as a "poll tax by paperwork".

Ashley Gantt

A Democratic state representative from Miami who shared the challenges her aunt faced in renewing her driver's license due to not having a birth certificate, noting this is a common issue for Black Americans born during the Jim Crow era.

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What they’re saying

“Election integrity is key and we won't have integrity in our government or in the laws that we passed, unless we have integrity in our elections. And it's what the people of Florida want.”

— Jenna Persons-Mulicka, State Representative (cbsnews.com)

“I see the senior on a fixed income that now has to chase down documents from another state she left 50 years ago or doesn't have them. I see the working father who cannot afford to miss a shift just to stand in the line at an agency office. I see the married woman whose name change requires paperwork buried in the courthouse archives.”

— RaShon Young, State Representative (cbsnews.com)

“This is what a lot of Black folks who were born during Jim Crow have to contend with. This is not conjecture. It's real life.”

— Ashley Gantt, State Representative (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The bill now moves to the Florida Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

The new voting eligibility rules passed by the Florida House highlight the ongoing debate over election integrity and access, with supporters arguing the changes are necessary to protect the integrity of elections, while critics contend the requirements will disproportionately burden certain groups of voters.