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• Election Crimes and Security

Election Crimes and Security

Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida's Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the Florida Legislature have made elections integrity a top priority by making significant investments to ensure Florida has the technology, infrastructure and resources to conduct the nation’s most efficient and secure elections.  Under the Governor’s leadership, Florida has become a model for successful elections administration.  Secretary Byrd and his team at the Florida Department of State work hard each day to ensure to protect the significant investments that have been made and use these resources to continue to lead the way in election integrity.   

In 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 524, which among other election integrity measures, also created the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) tasked with conducting preliminary investigations into any irregularities or fraud involving voter registration, voting, candidate or issue petition activities, or any other alleged violations of Florida’s Election Code. To date, OECS has reviewed and investigated over 3,000 complaints and allegations of election fraud. Additionally, OECS has initiated over 1,300 independent investigations.  After preliminary investigation, OECS refers all evidence of potential election crimes to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Office of Statewide Prosecution or the local state attorney for the judicial circuit in which the alleged violation occurred.    

The OECS continues to be vigilant in its efforts to proactively identify and thwart those who seek to violate Florida election laws.  If you believe you have information regarding any crime, fraud, or irregularity affecting Florida’s election system or any violation of Florida’s Election Code, please use the following to download Florida’s Election Fraud Complaint.

Florida’s Voter Fraud Hotline at: 1-877-868-3737.

DOS Resources

Office of Election Crimes and Security Report 2023

Office of Election Crimes and Security Report 2022

Office of Election Crimes and Security Supplemental Interim Report 12-20-2024

Press Releases

09/12/2024 - FDLE announces arrest of Georgia man for petition fraud

07/25/2024 - FDLE arrests sex offender felon for illegally voting

06/28/2024 - FDLE arrests Port St. Lucie woman for abortion petition fraud

06/12/2024 - FDLE announces arrest for petition circulator fraud

06/04/2024 - FDLE announces arrest for petition fraud on abortion initiative

05/15/2024 - FDLE arrests sex offender felon for illegally voting

04/26/2024 - FDLE arrests non-citizen, felon for voter fraud

04/04/2024 - FDLE arrests Quincy woman for petition circulator fraud

03/28/2024 - Arrest warrant remains active for suspect accused of petition fraud on abortion initiative

03/25/2024 - Petition circulator arrested for fraud involving abortion initiative

03/22/2024 - FDLE arrests man for petition circulator fraud

02/06/2024 - FDLE arrests petition circulator for fraud involving abortion initiative

12/21/2023 - FDLE arrests paid petition circulators for petition fraud crimes

10/23/2023 - FDLE arrests paid petition circulators for fraudulent use of personal ID information

09/14/2023 - FDLE arrests Miami Commissioner on money laundering, official misconduct charges

08/28/2023 - FDLE arrests paid petition circulator for personal identification fraud

07/14/2023 - Governor Ron DeSantis Highlights Accomplishments During First Year of Election Integrity Office

05/10/2023 - FDLE arrests Brevard sexual predator for election fraud

05/09/2023 - FDLE arrests two on election fraud charges

05/08/2023 - FDLE arrests Osceola man in ghost candidate scheme

04/19/2023 - PRESS RELEASE: Florida Department of State Holds Third-Party Voter Registration Organizations Accountable for Repeated Violations of Law

03/15/2023 - Two arrested for election crimes violations following FDLE investigation

12/09/2022 - FDLE arrests Marianna woman for constitutional amendment petition fraud crimes

11/04/2022 - FDLE arrests woman for voting in multiple states

11/03/2022 - Voting-related Crimes Result in Prosecution, Jail Time for Defendants - State Attorney Office For The Fourth Judicial Circuit

10/20/2022 - FDLE arrests Jamaican citizen for voting in U.S. elections

8/18/2022 - Governor DeSantis Announces the Arrest of 20 Elections Criminals

News and Media

Florida arrests petition gatherer accused of submitting fraudulent signatures for abortion measure (floridapolitics.com)

Florida 'election police force' report looks to paint positive picture of crackdown on voter fraud (floridapolitics.com)

Eighth defendant convicted on voter fraud charge after jury trial; mixed verdict also exonerated him on perjury charge (msn.com)

Ex-Fort Myers man gets prison in SWFL voter registration case | WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida

4th resident of The Villages admits to voting twice in the 2020 election (clickorlando.com)

Delray man arrested on voter fraud charges reaches plea deal (sun-sentinel.com)

Jacksonville felon sex offender pleads guilty to election fraud (jacksonville.com)

Election police arrest Jamaican ‘illegal alien’ for voting (floridapolitics.com)