Former leaders of the Republican Party of Florida claim new election laws in the state were aimed at suppressing Democratic turnout on Election Day – not fighting voter fraud.

Republicans across the nation have pushed for restrictive voting laws in the name of fighting voter fraud. Democrats have alleged that GOP-backed laws limiting early voting, ending same-day registration and requiring photo-IDs to cast a ballot were cynical attempts to impede Democratic voters, an allegation Republicans have since now denied.

Jim Greer, the former head of the Florida Republican Party, told The Palm Beach Post that a new law shortening the early voting period in the state was intended to prevent Democrats from voting. Greer said that since at least 2009, GOP staff and consultants had discussed limiting early voting hours, which they believed helped Democratic candidates. He described current talk of eliminating voter fraud as a ‘marketing ploy.