>> SUPPORTERS SAY IT’S ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY. CRITICS SAY IT WILL MAKE VOTING HARDER FOR CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE. A NEW FLORIDA BILL CALLS FOR ADDING A SPECIAL MARKING ON SOME DRIVER’S LICENSES. STATE ID’S GULF COAST NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER DAVE ELIAS SHOWS US HOW VOTERS COULD BE AFFECTED. >> WELL, IF YOU’RE A NON-CITIZEN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE COULD LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A NATURALIZED CITIZEN. THAT’S BECAUSE A NEW BILL CALLS FOR ADDING THE LETTERS AND SEE TO THE BACK OF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE. THAT STANDS FOR NON CITIZENS. THE LAWMAKER WHO INTRODUCED THE BILL SAYS HE BELIEVES THIS WOULD CUT DOWN ON VOTER FRAUD. KEEP THE ELECTIONS SECURE, AUDREY WAY JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO FLORIDA AND REGISTERED TO VOTE AND SHE SUPPORTS A SPECIAL MARK PROVING CITIZENSHIP. I THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA. >> BECAUSE WE SHOULD LET THE NATION KNOW. >> WELL, YOU ARE. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU. AND WE’RE WHERE YOU’RE FROM. HOWEVER, OTHERS FEAR THAT MARK COULD MAKE PEOPLE A TARGET. I THINK THEY’RE JUST BE REALLY A NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE GET PULLED OVER AND STUFF LIKE THAT THAT REALLY CALL THEM OUT FOR POLICE. GABRIELA SANTOS POINTS OUT THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A CITIZEN. >> TO HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIKE HAVE RESIDENCY BUT AREN’T CITIZENS. YEAH, MAYBE THEY’RE WORKING ON IT. SO IT WOULDN’T BE REALLY EFFECTIVE TO DO THAT. ELECTION SUPERVISORS ALREADY VERIFY CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT THAT SPECIAL MARKING TO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS CROSS TRACK BEFORE WE EVER MAKE THE PERSON A VOTER, YOU KNOW, REGISTERED VOTER, COLLIER COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. MELISSA BLAZIER, WHO’S IN THE MIDDLE OF A NAPLES CITY ELECTION. SO SHE TRUSTS THE STATE IS VERIFYING CITIZENSHIP. THEY ASK YOU FOR YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS VERIFYING INFORMATION AND ANY VOTER IN QUESTION ON ELECTION DAY WOULD BE GIVEN A PROVISIONAL BALLOT. AND ONCE THE VERIFIED THEIR VOTE WOULD BE COUNTED AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR VOTER RULES ARE CLEAN. NOW, IF THIS BILL PASSES AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT, IT WOULD TAKE EFFEC
Florida bill proposes marking noncitizen driver’s licenses
Updated: 6:41 PM EST Jan 6, 2026
A proposed bill in the Florida Legislature seeks to add the letters “NC” to the back of driver’s licenses for noncitizens, a move supporters argue will reduce voter fraud, while critics warn it could lead to discrimination.Audrey Wade, a recent Florida resident and registered voter, supports the idea of a special mark proving citizenship.”I think it’s a good idea. Because we should let the nation know who you are and a little bit about you and where you’re from,” Wade said.Conversely, Gabriela Santos from Fort Myers expressed concerns that the marking could make individuals targets, especially during police stops.”I feel it would be very unnecessary, especially when people get pulled over and stuff like that. It would call them out or the police,” Santos said. She also noted that noncitizens can legally hold driver’s licenses, adding, “There are people who do have residency but not citizens, but maybe they’re working on it, so it wouldn’t be really effective to do that.”Melissa Blazier, the Collier County supervisor of elections, explained that election supervisors already verify citizenship without the need for such markings.”All of this information is cross-checked before we ever make the person a registered voter,” Blazier said.She emphasized that the state requires verifying documents, like birth certificates and social security numbers, to ensure only lawful U.S. citizens are registered voters in Florida.”At the end of the day, it’s the supervisor of elections’ duty to ensure their voter roles are clean,” she added.If the bill passes and the governor signs it, the measure would take effect in July.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
A proposed bill in the Florida Legislature seeks to add the letters “NC” to the back of driver’s licenses for noncitizens, a move supporters argue will reduce voter fraud, while critics warn it could lead to discrimination.
Audrey Wade, a recent Florida resident and registered voter, supports the idea of a special mark proving citizenship.
“I think it’s a good idea. Because we should let the nation know who you are and a little bit about you and where you’re from,” Wade said.
Conversely, Gabriela Santos from Fort Myers expressed concerns that the marking could make individuals targets, especially during police stops.
“I feel it would be very unnecessary, especially when people get pulled over and stuff like that. It would call them out or the police,” Santos said. She also noted that noncitizens can legally hold driver’s licenses, adding, “There are people who do have residency but not citizens, but maybe they’re working on it, so it wouldn’t be really effective to do that.”
Melissa Blazier, the Collier County supervisor of elections, explained that election supervisors already verify citizenship without the need for such markings.
“All of this information is cross-checked before we ever make the person a registered voter,” Blazier said.
She emphasized that the state requires verifying documents, like birth certificates and social security numbers, to ensure only lawful U.S. citizens are registered voters in Florida.
“At the end of the day, it’s the supervisor of elections’ duty to ensure their voter roles are clean,” she added.
If the bill passes and the governor signs it, the measure would take effect in July.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.