Today, the James Madison Institute (JMI) released a new report examining Florida’s two-decade journey to becoming a national model for election integrity, transparency, and accessibility.
JMI documents the presidential campaigns going back to the 2000 presidential election and details how Florida has transformed nearly every aspect of its electoral process.
Following Florida’s efforts after the 2000 election, JMI notes that the legislative efforts and administrative reforms demonstrate how the state has implemented changes aimed at ensuring secure, accurate, and transparent elections for voters.
Key reforms include:
• Statewide voter registration database for real-time, accurate voter rolls
• Strict photo ID requirements and signature verification at polls
• Secure ballot intake stations with daily monitoring
• Enhanced transparency, with real-time reporting of vote totals
• Creation of an Election Crimes Office to investigate fraud and misconduct
JMI describes Florida as the “Gold Standard” because of the reforms that state has adopted, delivering accurate and timely results in both the 2020 and 2024 elections, all while having record voter turnout.
“In Florida, all branches of state government – the legislative, executive, and judiciary – have demonstrated a commitment to restoring election integrity. The downstream effects of these laws are countless, but chief among them is a high degree of voter confidence in our elections. Its ability to conduct fair, accessible and, most importantly, accurate elections all while boosting turnout has earned Florida the nickname of ‘The Gold Standard’ when it comes to election administration and election integrity, and other states would do well to follow Florida’s lead.” — Doug Wheeler, Director, George Gibbs Center for Economic Prosperity, JMI.
“Roughly 11 million voters, 67 counties, and two time zones in Florida — and election results are on time and by the book — while other states have just begun counting. This is what we get right more than any other state, but it didn’t happen overnight. Over the last two decades, Florida has taken practical measures to beef up election integrity. These new laws have resulted in a higher degree of transparency, a reduction in election fraud, much higher turnout and, ultimately, more secure elections. We welcome and encourage other states and Washington, D.C. to observe our election process and embrace needed reform.” — Dr. Robert McClure, President and CEO, JMI.
