RNC and Florida GOP intervene to defend state law requiring proof of citizenship to vote

The Republican National Committee (RNC) will help defend a new voting law in Florida.

Attorneys for the national party, along with the Republican Party of Florida, filed a motion to intervene in court after a number of voting rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging a proof-of-citizenship law (HB 991) passed this year.

“Democrats are once again attacking commonsense election safeguards that more than 80% of Americans support,” said RNC Chair Joe Gruters, who voted in favor of the law as a member of the Florida Senate. “The RNC is intervening to defend Florida’s proof-of-citizenship law, protect the voter rolls, and stop yet another attempt by Democrats to cheat in our elections.”

State party officials expressed confidence the Florida law will survive court scrutiny.

“Florida’s SAVE Act is a commonsense law that helps ensure only eligible U.S. citizens are registering to vote,” said Florida GOP Chair Evan Power.

“Floridians deserve confidence that every legal vote is counted and that our elections are protected from unlawful voting. The Florida GOP is proud to stand alongside the RNC in defending this law and will continue fighting to protect the integrity of our elections and the rights of every eligible voter.”

A 64-page motion was filed by Washington law firm Consovoy McCarthy and Florida law firm Continental, with Coral Gables attorney Jesus Suarez submitting it in federal court. It makes a point-by-point argument against a lawsuit filed in April challenging the state law. Several groups including UnidosUS filed complaints the same day Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation.

“Florida families are struggling with rising costs, but instead of addressing the affordability crisis, the controlling party in the state legislature spent last legislative session creating new barriers to the ballot box,” said UnidosUS Florida State Director Jared Nordlund at the time.

“They know their agenda is unpopular, and when they cannot win by persuading voters, they try to win by making it harder for people to vote. HB 991 is another solution in search of a problem, and Florida is once again the testing ground for a voter suppression playbook that could spread nationwide. These laws target the voices they fear most, especially women, communities of color, and working-class voters.”

But Republicans at the national level have made election integrity a central part of their agenda heading into the Midterms. Gruters, who previously led an Election Integrity Committee for the RNC before his election as national Chair last year, has supported previous intervention on election issues. He has been a strong ally of President Donald Trump, who has prioritized similar proof-of-citizenship policy proposals at the federal level.