Florida Enacts New Voting Restrictions, Faces Legal Challenge

Voting rights groups sue over citizenship verification and ID requirements

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:06pm

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law new voting restrictions that require voters to prove their citizenship and limit the types of identification that can be used at the polls. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new law on behalf of several voting rights organizations.

Why it matters

The new law is part of a broader effort by Republicans in Florida and across the country to implement stricter voting rules, often citing unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. Critics argue these measures disproportionately impact certain constituencies, making it harder for some eligible voters to cast ballots.

The details

The new law requires all current and future registered voters in Florida to verify their citizenship, either by providing a birth certificate, passport, or other documentation when registering. It also prohibits the use of student IDs and retirement center IDs as valid forms of identification at polling places after 2026, limiting the types of ID that can be used. Voting rights advocates warn these changes could prevent thousands of legitimate Florida voters from casting ballots.

  • The citizenship verification requirement does not take effect until January 1, 2027, after the 2026 midterm elections.
  • The ban on student and retirement IDs at polling places goes into effect in 2026.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida who signed the new voting restrictions into law.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

A civil rights organization that has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new law on behalf of several voting rights groups.

League of Women Voters of Florida

A nonpartisan organization that advocates for voting rights and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the new law.

Donald Trump

The former president who has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, which has fueled Republican efforts to implement stricter voting rules.

Erin Grall

A Republican state senator who cited two criminal prosecutions of non-citizen voting as justification for the new law during legislative debate.

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What they’re saying

“The Governor signed a bill tying the right to vote to the possession of costly documents that many U.S. citizens don't have easy access to. No eligible Floridian should be pushed out of the voter rolls simply because of red tape.”

— Jessica Lowe-Minor, President, League of Women Voters of Florida

“The law 'is based on xenophobic lies and disinformation. The Legislature's failure to look out for constituents instead of legislators' own political interests will harm married women, naturalized citizens, young people, and many other eligible voters who do not have ready access to documents like passports or birth certificates.'”

— Caren Short, Director of Legal and Research, League of Women Voters

What’s next

The ACLU lawsuit challenging the new law is expected to be heard in federal court in the coming months.

The takeaway

The new voting restrictions in Florida are the latest example of Republican-led efforts across the country to implement stricter voting rules, often citing unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. Critics argue these measures make it harder for certain groups of eligible voters to cast ballots, raising concerns about the integrity of the democratic process.