DeSantis administration report alleges 'fraud' in Florida abortion amendment

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration released an unprecedented report on Friday accusing the organizers behind Florida’s abortion amendment of committing “widespread petition fraud” in the drive to get the initiative on the ballot next month.

The unusual 348-page preliminary report from the Florida secretary of state advocates for the state Legislature to change laws to crack down on future petition drives. And it could lay the groundwork for an attempt by the administration to disqualify or invalidate the amendment, which DeSantis has vowed to defeat.

The report alleges that organizers backing Amendment 4, which would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban, illegally paid circulators by the number of signatures collected. The report said that the state on Friday fined the organizers $328,000.

State audits estimate that 16.4% of petitions across the state should never have been validated, the report states.



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/10/14/desantis-administration-report-alleges-fraud-in-florida-abortion-amendment/