DeSantis election police investigate abortion petition signatures in Lee County

In Lee County, two residents were questioned at their homes regarding the validity of their signatures on a petition aimed at placing an abortion amendment on Florida's ballot. The amendment seeks to protect abortion access until viability, countering the state's six-week abortion ban. Isaac Menasche, one of the residents, expressed surprise at the questioning, noting that a plainclothes officer had a copy of his driver’s license and other personal documents. The investigation was initiated by DeSantis' secretary of state, who requested elections supervisors in several counties to send petition forms to Tallahassee, despite these forms already being verified as legitimate. This action has raised concerns among supporters of the amendment, who fear it may represent political interference in the electoral process. Another resident, Castellanos, was approached by an officer who inquired about a relative's signed petition. After confirming the signature's validity, she expressed mixed feelings about the situation, indicating a sense of surprise yet understanding of the political climate. The Lee County Supervisor of Elections was unaware of the state agency's investigation, and it remains unclear how the petitions were flagged for scrutiny. The ACLU of Florida has criticized these actions as authoritarian tactics, urging voters to support the amendment in the upcoming election.