Florida and Mississippi Enact Voter Citizenship Checks, Sparking Lawsuit

New laws require voters to provide proof of citizenship, drawing criticism from civil rights groups.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:40pm

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A fractured, abstract painting of overlapping geometric shapes and lines in shades of blue and grey, conceptually representing the bureaucratic process of voter registration and citizenship verification.New voting laws in Florida and Mississippi that require proof of citizenship aim to tighten election security, but critics argue they will make it harder for eligible citizens to cast ballots.Today in Orlando

The governors of Florida and Mississippi have signed into law measures that require officials to verify the citizenship of voters, sparking a lawsuit in Florida that claims the new requirements will make it harder for residents to vote. The laws mandate that voters provide documents like birth certificates or passports to prove their citizenship if their eligibility is challenged.

Why it matters

These new voting laws are part of a broader push by Republican-led states to tighten voter ID and citizenship requirements, which critics say disproportionately impacts marginalized communities and makes it more difficult for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote.

The details

Florida's new law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, requires voters to provide proof of citizenship if their eligibility is challenged by officials. Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit arguing this will disenfranchise many eligible voters who lack the necessary documents. Mississippi's new law signed by Gov. Tate Reeves also mandates additional citizenship checks for voter registration applicants who don't provide driver's license numbers, and requires the secretary of state to check voter rolls against an ICE database annually.

  • The Florida law goes into 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 verification law.

Tate Reeves

The Republican governor of Mississippi who signed a similar voter citizenship verification law.

Civil Rights Organizations

Groups that have filed a lawsuit challenging the Florida law, arguing it will make it harder for eligible voters to cast ballots.

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What they’re saying

“In Florida, we will always stand up for election integrity.”

— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida

“This is another win for election integrity in Mississippi [and America]. We will continue to do everything in our power to make it infinitely harder — with a goal to make it impossible — to cheat in our elections!”

— Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by civil rights groups challenging the Florida law is ongoing, and the outcome could impact the implementation of the new voter citizenship verification requirements.

The takeaway

These new voting laws in Florida and Mississippi are the latest efforts by Republican-led states to impose stricter voter ID and citizenship requirements, which critics argue will disproportionately disenfranchise marginalized communities and make it harder for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote.