Overview

The Office of Election Crimes and Security is tasked with investigating “alleged election law violations or election irregularities” in Florida. “2024 DoS OECS Report” at 4. It was proposed in 2022 in response to pressure from the election denier movement, and it “regularly receives investigative leads … that purport to identify issues with voter rolls or election practices.” Kennedy, “Florida election crimes office continues to stir controversy”; “2024 DoS OECS Report” at 163. However, based on its own statistics, the Office of Election Crimes and Security has demonstrated no evidence of the existence of widespread voter fraud. “2024 DoS OECS Report” at 163. [1]

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Office of Election Crimes and Security are:

1. “Receiving and reviewing notices and reports generated by government officials or any other person regarding alleged occurrences of election law violations or election irregularities in this state.” Fla. Stat. § 97.022(1)(a).
2. “Initiating independent inquiries and conducting preliminary investigations into allegations of election law violations or election irregularities in this state.” Fla. Stat. § 97.022(1)(b).
3. Overseeing the voter fraud hotline. Fla. Stat. § 97.022(5).
4. Submitting an annual report (by January 15) to the Governor, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House “detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year. The report must include the total number of complaints received and independent investigations initiated and the number of complaints referred to another agency for further investigation or prosecution, including the total number of those matters sent to a special officer pursuant to s. 102.091.” [2] Fla. Stat. § 97.022(7).
5. Reviewing “complaints and conduct[ing] preliminary investigations into alleged violations of Florida Election Code or any rule adopted pursuant thereto and any election irregularities.” Fla. Stat. § 97.022(2).

Selection and Vacancy Information

• Appointed: The director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security is appointed by the Secretary of State. Fla. Stat. § 97.022(3).
  • The Governor can exert a great deal of influence on the appointment of the Director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security because the Governor can hire and fire the Secretary of State. See Fla. Stat. § 20.10(1).
• Makeup
  • The Office of Election Crimes and Security is housed in the Department of State. Fla. Stat. § 97.022(1).
  • The office is in Tallahassee. Fla. Stat. § 97.022(4).
  • The office employs “nonsworn investigators to conduct … investigations.” Fla. Stat. § 97.022(4).

Footnotes