Civil Rights Coalition Calls Florida’s “Show Your Papers” Law an Unconstitutional Attack on Democracy
April 23, 2026
Miami, Florida— Following a press briefing today, a coalition of national and local civil rights organizations reaffirmed their plan to challenge Florida House Bill 991 in federal court. The law, which requires documentary proof of citizenship to register or remain on the voter rolls, is being challenged as unconstitutional and a clear violation of the National Voter Registration Act.
Filed April 1, 2026, the lawsuit names Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link, and Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia as defendants. Plaintiffs include the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Rising, Common Cause, Hispanic Federation, and UnidosUS.
HB 991 would require prospective voters to produce documents such as a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, a requirement that will fall hardest on Black, Latino, naturalized citizens, senior, young, and low-income voters who may not have ready access to these costly documents. Unlike similar laws in other states, Florida’s law applies retroactively to currently registered voters, creating the threat of widespread purges from the rolls. Courts have previously struck down comparable documentary proof-of-citizenship laws, including a 2016 Kansas law that blocked more than 35,000 eligible voters from registering.
The coalition argues that HB 991 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by placing unlawful burdens on the fundamental right to vote. Advocates also warned that Florida’s law could serve as a national template, with similar voter suppression measures spreading to other states if left unchallenged.
“Florida has long been a testing ground for voter suppression, and what gets normalized here doesn’t stay here. HB 991 is the latest example from a national playbook designed to determine who holds power and who gets pushed out of our democracy. Documentary proof of citizenship laws like this one create barriers for new citizens, communities of color, and working-class voters, not just in Florida, but in every state where this model spreads. Advancement Project is committed to stopping it here, because protecting the ballot box in Florida is key to protecting it everywhere,” said Hani Mirza, Director of the Power and Democracy Program, Advancement Project
“This discriminatory law is a solution in search of a problem, creating more problems in the process,” said Tessa Petit, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Coalition. “It would suppress the vote of naturalized citizens by creating needless proof of citizenship, which can also create bureaucratic burdens for the supervisors of elections. In a healthy democracy, voting is made easy and accessible, not restrictive. This law is made to restrict eligible voters from their right to vote.”
“I know firsthand the type of people this law targets because they are my family,” said Oliver Torres, Common Cause’s Florida Program Manager. “No Floridian should lose their right to vote due to paperwork problems. Being a disabled Floridian, a naturalized citizen, or an elderly voter does not mean your right to vote should be at risk. That’s why Common Cause is proud to fight back against such a disastrous law.”
“The passage of the Florida SAVE Act is honestly a slap in the face to the millions of newly naturalized citizens, like me, who have been through enough barriers of the immigration system. If you have become naturalized within the past 8 years, you must notify DHSVM of your change in immigration status. There are millions of people in this state with my story: the fact that this legislature and this governor are making it so much harder for people to vote is disheartening, and we will prove it illegal,” said Teresa Guzman at Florida Rising. “People have organized, worked to pass laws, and built movements around eliminating barriers to voting. We will continue to raise awareness, make sure we amplify the voices of the voters most impacted by this bill, and fight to the end in the courts and, of course, in the streets.”
Background
HB 991 was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and is set to take effect in 2027. The law imposes a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement on all Floridians seeking to register to vote or maintain their registration on the voter rolls. Voting rights advocates argue that Florida’s existing registration system already adequately verifies citizenship, making HB 991 an unnecessary and discriminatory burden.
A copy of the complaint is available upon request. For interview requests or additional information, contact mediadesk@advancementproject.org.
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Advancement Project is a next-generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive, and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high-impact policy change. Visit www.advancementproject.org to learn more.
