State officials say cases include allegations involving noncitizens, people whose voting rights had not been restored and voting in more than one jurisdiction
Florida authorities announced charges this week against 20 people in a statewide operation involving allegations of illegal voting.
The announcement was made by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the cases under investigation involve elections held in the state, including the 2024 general election.
Cases involve different circumstances
Authorities say the 20 cases are not all the same.
Some of the charges involve people who, according to the state, were not U.S. citizens and allegedly voted in Florida elections.
Other cases involve people with certain felony convictions who, according to investigators, had not legally regained their right to vote.
The operation also includes allegations of voting in more than one jurisdiction.
Twelve defendants were already in custody
According to the state’s announcement, 12 of the 20 defendants were already in custody.
The cases will now move through the judicial system.
The charges announced by authorities are formal allegations. Criminal responsibility must be determined individually through the court process.
Florida maintains a unit to investigate election crimes
The state operates an Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Florida Department of State.
The office receives complaints and investigates possible violations of Florida election laws.
The department’s official website lists the operation announced on September 24 among recent actions related to election investigations.
Sources: Florida Attorney General and Florida Department of State.
