Sam Levine for The Guardian:

Several Floridians facing criminal voter fraud charges, loudly trumpeted by Governor Ron DeSantis last week, believed they were eligible to vote, and in some cases said they were advised by government officials that they could cast ballots.

Court and election documents reviewed by the Guardian raise questions about whether the 19 people charged last week knowingly committed fraud or whether they were confused about their eligibility. All those charged have prior murder or sexual offense convictions, which means they cannot vote in Florida unless they receive clemency. All of the defendants also submitted voter registration applications, which were approved by local election officials, ahead of the 2020 election, and several said they had received voter registration cards in the mail, which they took as a signal that they were eligible to vote.

The defendants are all charged with at least one count of false swearing on a voter registration application and voting as an unqualified elector, both third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. In order to get a conviction, prosecutors will have to prove the defendants knew they were ineligible when they registered and voted. They have yet to submit any evidence showing the defendants were explicitly warned their specific felonies barred them from voting.

DeSantis announced the charges last week to signal the aggressiveness with which a newly created office in Florida – the first of its kind in the country – will investigate and prosecute election fraud. The defendants, DeSantis said, would “pay the price”.