Dennis Baxley, Sponsor Of Strict Florida Voting Law, Admits No Widespread Fraud (VIDEO)

A sponsor of Florida's new strict voting law defended the legislation on MSNBC on Wednesday, telling host Al Sharpton it was imperative to protect the election from "mishap and mischief."

Under questioning from Sharpton, State Rep. Dennis Baxley (R) admitted Florida has not experienced widespread election fraud, and framed the new law as a preventive measure. "We don't want to wait until voter fraud," he said. "We are going to have very close elections in Florida. We have people here from all over the world, all over the country."

The new law would reduce early voting dates and curtail where and when people can register to vote. It has been criticized by the NAACP for making it more difficult for minority communities to vote.

Sharpton questioned the need for more restrictive laws, noting that there has only been 31 cases of alleged voter fraud in the past three years. Baxley said it doesn't matter. "We have to have credible results in close elections," he said. "Did you know Mickey Mouse register to vote last time?"

Baxley defended the intent of the law, despite Sharpton's blistering critique. "It's going to be a better system," he said. "I don't apologize for the legislature protecting this process."

Comments

[tylertetrick]

10:20 PM on 06/10/2012

Any reasonable person can watch the attack on a very honorable man, Respresentative Baxley, from a very angry man who will do anything to get on TV. Rev. Sharpton....you lost this debate....badly. Calm down and find peace Sharpton.

[Will737]

05:20 AM on 06/08/2012

Hey, maybe we need a Space Shield at the edge of the Statosphere to keep out those extraterrestrials who are trying to vote in our election? Now I know you're thinking that space aliens don't care about our elections. But here's the thing. If that's true, then how do you account for a Florida Governor who looks just like Valdemort?

[Sheena Rolle]

07:49 PM on 01/26/2012

Baxley doesn't mention that even if you do hand someone a registration card and an envelope, they still have to register as a third party registration organization.
In fact, there is a lawsuit moving on that very issue right now.

[wiscgirl1960]

11:42 PM on 12/09/2011

Al Sharpton is an idiot!!! If he would listen to what is being said, the need to stir the people of this country wouln't even be an issue. He needs to ask the wizard for a brain!!

[sugarpops]

03:08 PM on 12/08/2011

The GOP/TP are pulling this stunt across the nation. We need to get every eligible voter registered and to the polls next November.
It doesn't matter who you vote for just VOTE!!!

[MEA]

02:56 PM on 12/08/2011

Voter surpression is the name of the game. Since they can't do poll taxes anymore this is the new and improved 21st century version. What's next? New and improved Jim Crow?

[mistybit]

12:37 PM on 06/24/2012

there aret count180,000 questionable voter registrations in fl.

[Pamela Hahn Pierce]

06:54 PM on 11/10/2012

What's next? The ultra-conservative activist majority SCOTUS striking down the Voting Rights Act.

[unhipcat]

02:55 PM on 12/08/2011

Did Mickey cast a ballot? I'm guessing "no."

[Pamela Hahn Pierce]

06:55 PM on 11/10/2012

Anyone who was serious about commiting voter fraud wouldn't have registered as Mickey Mouse. That's just silly.

[Countess]

02:49 PM on 12/08/2011

Welcome to the brave new world of the southern dominated GOP where they are transitioning from 40 years of coded racism to a much more blatant form of the same disease as they bodly attempt to repress the vote of blacks and other minorities while promoting the re-segregation of America.

[Bloviator88]

02:48 PM on 12/08/2011

Voting fraud = voting for Democrats. Always has, always will.

[JumboBurrito]

03:40 PM on 12/08/2011

You are living up to your name.

[efmo]

02:38 PM on 12/08/2011

How stupid are people who believe these laws are about voter fraud in anything but name? If voter fraud helped republicans win, we'd not be hearing about the issue at all.

[waltifarian]

02:30 PM on 12/08/2011

No doubt ALEC is lurking in the shadows here: http://www.campusprogress.org/articles/new_evidence_of_alec_connections_in_all_successful_voter_id_legislatio/ as it is with most Voter "ID' laws.

Defeating them though won't come from pointing how and unfair and hypocritical it all is. They don't care. Grass roots organization around defeating ALEC candidates is the only hope.

[airforcevet43]

02:28 PM on 12/08/2011

This guy says we're doing it just in case...kinda like, taking medication for a condition before you get it!.......

Ya know, pill poppin'...that thing you don't want your kid doin'

[redrigs]

02:22 PM on 12/08/2011

This man, Baxley - you are not fooling anyone - this is outright voter suppression - and get that smirk off your face - you are a huge liar - Florida what is with your voting choices?????? Really, you are voting against your own best interests by voting people like this guy into office, not to mention your Governor Scott, and Rep. West - all losers....for the Florida people and American people!

[StinkyMoBub]

02:21 PM on 12/08/2011

Voter suppression is always good for the American people..

Or is it?

[Impaler]

02:18 PM on 12/08/2011

There is wide spread voter fraud, we have not forgotten ACORN! At least for the next election, can we all agree on a photo ID?

[JumboBurrito]

02:24 PM on 12/08/2011

No, there is not, even Baxley admitted that.

[gnofg6]

02:25 PM on 12/08/2011

reading will do you some good. an informed electorate is a good electorate.