On Thursday, the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would restrict early voting in Florida. The Senate Bill 90 had been passed along party lines by the Senate and House, with one exception – Republican Senator Jeff Brands.

It was signed by the Governor at a hotel in West Palm Beach. Media who came to the Hilton, to report on the event, with the exception of Fox & Friends, were barred from the signing. A spokesperson said that they had not requested for exclusivity.

Republican controlled states believe that the election was lost due to fraud in mail ballot votes. Although the courts dismissed all claims of voter or election fraud, the former President Donald Trump reiterates this claim at every possible meeting and the Republican dominated states are proposing and passing bills to reduce mail and drop box voting, to reinforce this claim.

Georgia was the first state to pass a restrictive voting bill. Michigan and Texas followed and now Florida is the latest GOP dominated state to pass such a bill into law which will be effective on July 1.

The bills by all the states are ostensibly touted as electoral reforms but seek to restrict mailbox voting, drop box ballots, and increase the distances where small measures such as providing food and water can be offered to voters.

Although there have been some protests by major corporations, it has not deterred any state that has a GOP majority from passing similar bills.

Florida election supervisors and officials have said that the new laws would only make voting harder. The bill had added restrictions to drop boxes. It requires voters to sign up every year if they wish to use mail ballots. Greater amount of identification and signature restrictions also apply.

Civil activists have filed cases against these restrictive bills in these states. After DeSantis signed the bill, advocacy groups have filed two federal lawsuits that seek to block the law.

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