Appeals court upholds Florida law barring noncitizens from gathering voter petitions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Provisions of restricting the state's process for getting citizens' initiatives on the ballot can go into effect, a federal appeals court has decided. The decision issued Tuesday overrules a that blocked portions of the law from being enforced while brought by grassroots campaigners plays out.

Known as H.B. 1205, the law sets new limits on how many petitions Florida voters can collect in their effort to get a constitutional amendment on the state's ballot, a provision punishable by a felony if voters violate it. The measure also bars non-U.S. citizens and non-Florida residents from gathering signed petitions for ballot initiatives.