Florida and Mississippi Enact Voter Citizenship Checks

New laws spark lawsuit in Florida, raise concerns about voter disenfranchisement in Mississippi

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A realistic, cinematic painting of an empty voting booth in a dimly lit room, with warm light streaming in through a window and creating deep shadows. The scene evokes a sense of quiet contemplation and unease about the implications of the new voter citizenship laws.New state laws requiring stricter voter citizenship checks cast a long shadow over the integrity and accessibility of the democratic process.Today in Orlando

Governors in Florida and Mississippi have signed into law measures that require officials to verify the citizenship of voters, sparking a lawsuit in Florida and raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement in Mississippi. The new laws come as similar federal legislation pushed by former President Trump has stalled in Congress.

Why it matters

These new state laws are part of a broader push by Republican-led states to tighten voter ID and citizenship requirements, which critics argue will make it harder for certain groups, including minorities and the poor, to exercise their right to vote. The legal challenges and ongoing debates highlight the politically charged nature of election integrity issues.

The details

The Florida law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, requires voters to provide a birth certificate, passport or naturalization certificate as proof of citizenship if their eligibility is challenged. Civil rights groups have sued, arguing this will disenfranchise many eligible voters. The Mississippi law, signed by Gov. Tate Reeves, mandates additional citizenship checks and annual reviews of voter rolls against an ICE database to flag potential non-citizens.

  • The Florida law's citizenship provision takes effect on January 1, 2027.
  • The Mississippi law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida who signed the new voter citizenship law.

Tate Reeves

The Republican governor of Mississippi who signed the new voter citizenship law.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has pushed for similar federal legislation on voter citizenship requirements, though it has stalled in Congress.

Southern Poverty Law Center

A civil rights organization that has criticized the Mississippi law, arguing it could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters.

Laura Kelly

The Democratic governor of Kansas who must decide whether to sign or veto a GOP-backed voter citizenship bill passed by the state legislature.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Florida law is being challenged in federal court by civil rights groups. In Kansas, the governor must decide whether to sign or veto a similar voter citizenship bill passed by the Republican-led legislature.

The takeaway

These new state laws on voter citizenship requirements highlight the ongoing partisan battles over election integrity and access. While proponents argue the measures are needed to secure elections, critics contend they will disproportionately disenfranchise certain groups of voters, raising concerns about the fairness and inclusiveness of the democratic process.