Bill Text: FL S0888 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Overseas Absentee Ballots

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-03-11 - Died in Ethics and Elections [S0888 Detail]

Download: Florida-2016-S0888-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 888
       
       
        
       By Senator Joyner
       
       
       
       
       
       19-01244-16                                            2016888__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to overseas absentee ballots; amending
    3         s. 101.697, F.S.; requiring the Department of State to
    4         develop instructions and procedures for the electronic
    5         submission of voted absentee ballots from overseas
    6         voters; requiring the department, in consultation with
    7         supervisors of elections, to develop security
    8         measures; prescribing requirements for such security
    9         measures; requiring the department to perform an
   10         annual security assessment; providing an effective
   11         date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Section 101.697, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   16  read:
   17         101.697 Electronic transmission of election materials.—The
   18  Department of State shall determine whether secure electronic
   19  means can be established for receiving ballots from overseas
   20  voters. If such security can be established, the department
   21  shall adopt rules to authorize a supervisor of elections to
   22  accept from an overseas voter, including uniformed services and
   23  civilian overseas absentee voters, a request for an absentee
   24  ballot or a voted absentee ballot by secure facsimile machine
   25  transmission or other secure electronic means. The rules must
   26  provide that in order to accept a voted ballot, the verification
   27  of the voter must be established, the security of the
   28  transmission must be established, and each ballot received must
   29  be recorded. The department shall provide instructions,
   30  procedures, and services for the secure return of voted absentee
   31  ballots by electronic means under this section. The department
   32  shall, in consultation with supervisors of elections, develop
   33  security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
   34  absentee voting by electronic means and to reasonably secure the
   35  transmission, processing, and storage of voter data from
   36  interception and unauthorized access. The department shall
   37  perform an annual security assessment after each election to
   38  evaluate the number of or any discrepancy in the votes received
   39  electronically.
   40         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.