Florida has long required voters to show identification at the polls. That’s not new. What is new is a proposal moving through the Florida Legislature that would eliminate certain forms of ID that voters have relied on for years — including student IDs issued by public colleges and universities, as well as some forms of community and retirement identification.

House Bill 991 would still allow driver’s licenses, passports, military IDs, and even concealed weapons permits. But it would specifically carve out student IDs as unacceptable. For many young voters who don’t drive, and for seniors who may rely on alternative forms of identification, this change could mean new hurdles between them and their right to vote.

Florida’s elections already have a reputation for being well run and producing fast results. If that’s the case, then why remove forms of ID that have been used without documented widespread problems? When lawmakers acknowledge they do not have specific data showing misuse of student IDs at the polls, it raises serious concerns about whether this change is necessary at all.

Voting is a fundamental right. Whether someone is a college student casting a ballot for the first time, a retiree in a senior community, or a lifelong Floridian who simply doesn’t have a driver’s license, every eligible voter deserves a fair and reasonable path to participate.

We urge the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis to reject any changes that unnecessarily limit accepted forms of voter ID. Protect election integrity, yes — but do so without creating new barriers for students, seniors, and working families.

Florida’s democracy works best when every eligible voter can be heard. Don’t make it harder. Preserve access. Protect the vote.