Senate passes rewritten election integrity bill, kicking the high-stakes measure back to the House

The Senate has approved an election integrity proposal that would expand citizenship verification for voter registration, tighten candidate qualification rules and change what identification voters can present at the polls despite partisan concern about disenfranchisement.

Senators voted 27–12 to approve the amended version of HB 991, sponsored in the House by Fort Myers Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, capping hours of debate during the final days of the Regular Session.

Thursday’s vote followed a “delete-all” amendment adopted by the Senate Wednesday replacing much of HB 991’s original language. The measure now must return to the House for consideration of the rewritten proposal.

Discussion on the Senate floor drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argued the proposal could create new hurdles for eligible voters despite Florida already having secure elections.

Jacksonville Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis, who previously worked in an elections office, evoked Charlie Kirk’s name to warn that removing student identification cards from the list of acceptable polling place IDs could disproportionately affect younger voters. The change has drawn sustained opposition since it was first introduced during the House Committee process and also removes retirement home identification cards used by some seniors.

“I have to ask,” Davis said Thursday, “when did students become the voting villain? When did that happen? And this Chamber loves Charlie Kirk, who built an entire movement around engaging students in civic life and encouraging them to participate in democracy.”

Supporters countered that the legislation is intended to address gaps in the current system and ensure only eligible citizens are voting.

Vero Beach Republican Sen. Erin Grall, who carried the Senate bill (SB 1334) incorporated into HB 991, said the measure is designed to modernize how Florida verifies voter citizenship using existing government databases.

“What is our tolerance for fraud and lack of integrity?” Grall said.

“Yes, we have safe elections in Florida but they don’t stay safe and secure if we don’t pay attention to the large gaps that exist where we can address additional fraud. There’s so many good things in this bill that I believe at the end of the day are going to make it easier for people to vote. … In this situation, if you have done it once with DHSMV, that is presumptive. It is done. That counts. You’re finished. You don’t have to do it again, even if you change your address. Your citizenship has been verified.” 

The Senate’s amendment replaces the House bill’s language with provisions largely drawn from Grall’s election proposal, effectively transforming the House bill into the Senate’s broader approach to election integrity.

Under the revised measure, Florida’s online voter registration system would compare applicants’ identifying information against records maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). If those records show documentation proving U.S. citizenship, the applicant’s citizenship status would be recorded in the statewide voter registration system.

If records show proof of citizenship is not on file, the application would be forwarded to the county Supervisor of Elections for further review. Supervisors would then verify citizenship status using available state and federal records and document the type of evidence used to confirm eligibility.

The legislation also formally defines which documents qualify as proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable records would include certified birth certificates, valid U.S. passports, naturalization certificates, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and certain government-issued identification indicating citizenship.

Applicants whose legal name differs from the name appearing on citizenship documentation would be required to provide additional records verifying the name change. Another provision requires applicants to acknowledge during the voter registration process that falsely affirming U.S. citizenship constitutes a third-degree felony under state and federal law.

The measure also directs DHSMV to include a person’s legal citizenship status on Florida driver licenses and identification cards beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Beyond voter registration, the legislation revises the types of identification voters may present at polling places. Current Florida law allows voters to use student identification cards and retirement facility identification cards as photo ID. The bill removes both from the list of acceptable identification.

Under the revised list, voters could present identification such as a Florida driver license, U.S. passport, military identification, a Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a concealed weapon or firearm license, or an employee identification card issued by a federal, state, county or municipal government entity.

The proposal also establishes new eligibility rules for candidates seeking to qualify for office. Candidates running under a political party must have been registered members of that party for at least 365 consecutive days before the start of the qualifying period, and candidates who changed their name through Florida’s general name-change petition process within the previous year would be prohibited from qualifying. Exceptions are included for name changes related to marriage, divorce or adoption.

The legislation also creates a statutory process allowing candidates or political parties to challenge whether a candidate meets eligibility requirements for office. Those challenges could be filed in circuit court.

If approved and signed by the Governor, several provisions — including the new candidate qualification rules, party swaps and the candidate challenge process — would take effect immediately upon becoming law. Other election administration changes, such as the requirement for driver licenses and identification cards to display citizenship status, would take effect Jan. 1.

With Senate passage, HB 991 now returns to the House for consideration of the chamber’s rewrite. If House lawmakers concur with the Senate amendment, the measure will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis for final approval.