Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd expressed gratitude to Governor Ron DeSantis for his role in positioning Florida as a leader in election integrity and a prime location for business and international partnerships. The state has been recognized globally as an attractive place for business under the leadership of Governor DeSantis.
Secretary Byrd stated, "Throughout the past year, Governor DeSantis has once again proven that Florida leads the nation in election integrity and elections administration, the best place for doing business through his innovative policies that include low taxes and low regulations."
The Florida Department of State highlighted several accomplishments for 2024. The state maintained its position as a gateway for international collaboration by hosting consular missions and trade offices. Secretary Byrd participated in discussions with Italian institutions to promote educational partnerships.
In supporting the business climate, over 628,000 new businesses were formed or qualified to operate in Florida this year. Among these, over 516,000 were limited liability companies.
Florida's commitment to fair elections was evident in overseeing three statewide elections. Measures were taken to ensure election integrity and transparency.
The Office of Election Crimes and Security investigated hundreds of cases related to election fraud. Their efforts led to numerous arrests and fines imposed on organizations involved in initiative petitions.
The state also worked on maintaining accurate voter rolls by identifying non-citizen registered voters. A lawsuit against the federal government regarding access to citizenship data is pending.
Efforts to preserve Florida's historical resources included collaborations with local partners on exhibits and events celebrating Tallahassee's Bicentennial. Additionally, historic properties were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Florida’s Division of Arts and Culture launched programs highlighting veterans' histories and cultural exchanges with Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
The Division of Historic Resources listed several properties on the National Register of Historic Places and initiated a grant program for Abandoned African-American Cemeteries. The program identified over 2,000 previously unrecorded cemeteries across the state.
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