No, DeSantis Didn’t Say Dominion Voting Systems Won’t be used in Florida

As early voting kicks off in Florida, a viral social media post has fueled misinformation by claiming that Dominion Voting Systems, a major provider of voting technology, has been banned from use in the state.

Early Voting Begins Amid False Claims

The Oct. 21 post on Threads asserted that Governor Ron DeSantis had announced Dominion machines would not operate in Florida. However, no official statement from the governor’s office supports this claim. Despite the post gaining traction, PolitiFact’s investigation revealed that DeSantis made no such declaration.

The viral post sparked confusion among commenters, with one asking, “How are we voting?” while others suggested other states should follow Florida’s supposed lead. Yet, this claim lacks any verified source, and evidence points to it being entirely unfounded.

Dominion Systems: Certified and In Use Across Florida

In reality, Dominion Voting Systems is still certified by the Florida Division of Elections and remains in use. According to the Division’s website, 18 Florida counties will utilize Dominion’s Democracy Suite for the 2024 election. The remaining 49 counties will operate with equipment from Election Systems & Software (ES&S), a Nebraska-based company. Stephanie Walstrom, a spokesperson for Dominion, confirmed this arrangement, stating that Dominion systems will be “used by voters across the State of Florida for the November 2024 election.” She added that Dominion serves numerous jurisdictions across 27 states.

PolitiFact reviewed DeSantis’ recent public appearances and speeches, finding no mention of a ban on Dominion’s technology. The fact-checking team also searched Nexis and Google databases and contacted DeSantis’ office for clarification but received no response. Meta, the parent company of Threads, flagged the original post as part of its ongoing initiative to combat misinformation, noting that such claims often contribute to public confusion.

Dominion: A Target of Persistent Misinformation

Dominion Voting Systems has been a frequent subject of false claims since the 2020 election. A surge of disinformation previously alleged that Dominion’s machines changed votes and even claimed the company had ties to Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez, despite no factual basis. These accusations led Dominion to file multiple lawsuits to defend its reputation, including a landmark settlement of $787 million with Fox News, which admitted to repeatedly airing unproven claims against the company.

Given the absence of evidence and the confirmed use of Dominion systems in Florida’s upcoming elections, PolitiFact has rated the claim as False. As misinformation continues to circulate in election processes, voters must rely on verified sources for accurate election information.