Bill Text: FL S1820 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mail Ballot Elections
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Ethics and Elections [S1820 Detail]
Download: Florida-2020-S1820-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1820 By Senator Rader 29-00519A-20 20201820__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to mail ballot elections; amending s. 3 97.012, F.S.; revising the responsibilities of the 4 Secretary of State; amending s. 97.021, F.S.; 5 deleting, revising, and defining terms; amending ss. 6 97.026, 97.061, 97.071, 98.065, 98.077, 98.0981, 7 98.255, and 98.461, F.S.; conforming provisions and 8 cross-references to changes made by the act; creating 9 s. 100.0001, F.S.; requiring that elections in this 10 state be conducted by mail; requiring the Department 11 of State to adopt any rules necessary for conducting 12 elections by mail; amending ss. 100.011, 100.032, 13 100.221, 100.371, and 101.001, F.S.; conforming 14 provisions and terminology to changes made by the act; 15 creating s. 101.012, F.S.; requiring the supervisor of 16 elections to establish voter services centers for 17 specified purposes; requiring the supervisor to 18 designate centers a certain length of time before an 19 election; requiring the supervisor to provide certain 20 information regarding centers to the Division of 21 Elections; specifying limitations and requirements 22 regarding locations and hours of operation for 23 centers; specifying that any elector in line at the 24 closing of a center must be allowed to vote; creating 25 s. 101.013, F.S.; requiring the supervisor to allow an 26 elector to deposit a voted ballot in a secure drop 27 box; specifying permissible locations for secure drop 28 boxes; specifying that any elector in line at the 29 closing of a secure drop box location must be allowed 30 to drop off his or her voted ballot; creating s. 31 101.014, F.S.; authorizing an elector to obtain a 32 replacement ballot under specified circumstances; 33 specifying requirements and limitations; authorizing a 34 member of the elector’s immediate family or the 35 elector’s legal guardian to request a replacement 36 ballot on behalf of the elector; defining the term 37 “immediate family”; requiring the supervisor to take 38 certain actions upon receiving a request for a 39 replacement ballot; prescribing the deadline for 40 receiving voted replacement ballots; amending s. 41 101.015, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 42 by the act; repealing s. 101.031, F.S., relating to 43 instructions for electors; repealing s. 101.043, F.S., 44 relating to identification required at polls; amending 45 ss. 101.045, 101.048, 101.049, 101.051, 101.111, 46 101.131, 101.151, and 101.171, F.S.; conforming 47 provisions and terminology to changes made by the act; 48 amending s. 101.20, F.S.; revising the timeframe for 49 the publication and the mailing of sample ballots; 50 conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 51 repealing s. 101.23, F.S., relating to the requirement 52 that election inspectors keep a list of those voting; 53 repealing s. 101.24, F.S., relating to ballot boxes 54 and ballots; repealing s. 101.43, F.S., relating to 55 substitute ballots; repealing s. 101.49, F.S., 56 relating to the procedure of election officers where 57 signatures differ; repealing s. 101.51, F.S., relating 58 to the requirement that electors occupy the voting 59 booth alone; amending ss. 101.56062 and 101.56063, 60 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 61 act; repealing s. 101.5608, F.S., relating to 62 procedures for voting by electronic or 63 electromechanical method; amending ss. 101.5610, 64 101.5611, 101.5612, 101.5613, 101.572, and 101.591, 65 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 66 act; repealing ss. 101.6101, 101.6102, 101.6103, 67 101.6104, 101.6105, 101.6106, and 101.6107, F.S., 68 relating to the Mail Ballot Election Act; 69 transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 101.62, 70 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 71 act; transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 72 101.64, F.S.; prescribing the timeframes by which the 73 supervisor shall mail ballots; authorizing the 74 supervisor to accept requests that a ballot be mailed 75 to a different address than that in the voter 76 registration records if certain conditions are met; 77 conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 78 transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 101.65; 79 revising instructions to electors to conform to 80 changes made by the act; amending s. 101.655, F.S.; 81 conforming provisions and a cross-reference to changes 82 made by the act; repealing s. 101.657, F.S., relating 83 to early voting; transferring, renumbering, and 84 amending s. 101.661, F.S.; conforming provisions to 85 changes made by the act; transferring, renumbering, 86 and amending s. 101.662, F.S.; conforming provisions 87 to changes made by the act; transferring and 88 renumbering s. 101.663, F.S., relating to an elector’s 89 change of residence to another state; transferring, 90 renumbering, and amending s. 101.67, F.S.; conforming 91 provisions to changes made by the act; transferring, 92 renumbering, and amending s. 101.68, F.S.; conforming 93 provisions to changes made by the act; transferring, 94 renumbering, and amending s. 101.69, F.S.; conforming 95 provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. 96 101.6921, 101.6923, 101.6925, 101.694, 101.6951, 97 101.6952, and 101.697, F.S.; conforming provisions and 98 cross-references to changes made by the act; repealing 99 s. 101.71, F.S., relating to polling places; 100 transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 101.715, 101 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 102 act; amending s. 101.733, F.S.; conforming provisions 103 to changes made by the act; amending s. 101.74, F.S.; 104 authorizing the supervisor to establish additional 105 voter services centers or secure drop box locations in 106 the event of an emergency; amending ss. 102.012, 107 102.014, 102.021, 102.031, 102.101, 102.141, 102.166, 108 102.168, 104.047, 104.0515, 104.0615, 104.0616, 109 104.17, 104.20, 104.29, 117.05, 153.53, 155.04, 110 163.514, 171.0413, 256.011, 394.459, 741.406, 790.06, 111 and 916.107, F.S.; conforming provisions, terminology, 112 and cross-references to changes made by the act; 113 providing an effective date. 114 115 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 116 117 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (13) of section 97.012, 118 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 119 97.012 Secretary of State as chief election officer.—The 120 Secretary of State is the chief election officer of the state, 121 and it is his or her responsibility to: 122 (1) Obtain and maintain uniformity in the interpretation 123 and implementation of the election laws, including uniformity in 124 the conduct of elections by mail. In order to obtain and 125 maintain uniformity in the interpretation and implementation of 126 the election laws, the Department of State may, pursuant to ss. 127 120.536(1) and 120.54, adopt by rule uniform standards for the 128 proper and equitable interpretation and implementation of the 129 requirements of chapters 97 through 102 and 105 of the Election 130 Code. 131 (13) Designate an office within the department to be 132 responsible for providing information regarding voter 133 registration procedures andvote-by-mailballot procedures to 134 absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters. 135 Section 2. Section 97.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to 136 read: 137 97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except 138 where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: 139 (1)“Absent elector” means any registered and qualified140voter who casts a vote-by-mail ballot.141(2)“Absent uniformed services voter” means: 142 (a) A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by 143 reason of such active duty, is absent from the place of 144 residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; 145 (b) A member of the merchant marine who, by reason of 146 service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of 147 residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or 148 (c) A spouse or dependent of a member referred to in 149 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) who, by reason of the active duty 150 or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence 151 where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote. 152 (2)(3)“Address of legal residence” means the legal 153 residential address of the elector and includes all information 154 necessary to differentiate one residence from another, 155 including, but not limited to, a distinguishing apartment, 156 suite, lot, room, or dormitory room number or other identifier. 157 (3)(4)“Alternative formats” has the meaning ascribed in 158 the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101 159 336, 42 U.S.C. ss. 12101 et seq., including specifically the 160 technical assistance manuals promulgated thereunder, as amended. 161 (4)(5)“Ballot” or “official ballot” when used in reference 162 to: 163 (a) “Marksense ballots” means that printed sheet of paper, 164 used in conjunction with an electronic or electromechanical vote 165 tabulation voting system, containing the names of candidates, or 166 a statement of proposed constitutional amendments or other 167 questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any 168 election, on which sheet of paper an elector casts his or her 169 vote. 170 (b) “Electronic or electromechanical devices” means a 171 ballot that is voted by the process of electronically 172 designating, including by touchscreen, or marking with a marking 173 device for tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data 174 processing equipment. 175 (5)(6)“Candidate” means any person to whom any one or more 176 of the following applies: 177 (a) Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or 178 election by means of the petitioning process. 179 (b) Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a 180 write-in candidate. 181 (c) Any person who receives contributions or makes 182 expenditures, or gives his or her consent for any other person 183 to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to 184 bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or 185 retention in, public office. 186 (d) Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a 187 primary depository. 188 (e) Any person who files qualification papers and 189 subscribes to a candidate’s oath as required by law. 190 191 However, this definition does not include any candidate for a 192 political party executive committee. 193 (6)(7)“Department” means the Department of State. 194 (7)(8)“Division” means the Division of Elections of the 195 Department of State. 196(9) “Early voting” means casting a ballot prior to election197day at a location designated by the supervisor of elections and198depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system.199(10) “Early voting area” means the area designated by the200supervisor of elections at an early voting site at which early201voting activities occur, including, but not limited to, lines of202voters waiting to be processed, the area where voters check in203and are processed, and the area where voters cast their ballots.204(11) “Early voting site” means those locations specified in205s. 101.657 and the building in which early voting occurs.206 (8)(12)“Election” means any primary election, special 207 primary election, special election, general election, or 208 presidential preference primary election. 209 (9)(13)“Election board” means the clerk and inspectors 210 appointed to conduct an election. 211 (10)(14)“Election costs”shallinclude, but are notbe212 limited to, expenditures for all paper supplies such as 213 envelopes, instructions to voters, affidavits, reports, ballot 214 cards, ballot bookletsfor vote-by-mail voters, postage, and 215 notices to voters; advertisements for registration book 216 closings, testing of voting equipment, and sample ballots, and217polling places; forms used to qualify candidates;polling site218rental and equipment delivery and pickup;data processing time 219 and supplies; election records retention; and labor costs, 220 including those costs uniquely associated with mailvote-by-mail221 ballot preparation, electionpollworkers, and election night 222 canvass. 223 (11)(15)“Elector” is synonymous with the word “voter” or 224 “qualified elector or voter,” except where the word is used to 225 describe presidential electors. 226 (12)(16)“General election” means an election held on the 227 first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the even 228 numbered years, for the purpose of filling national, state, 229 county, and district offices and for voting on constitutional 230 amendments not otherwise provided for by law. 231 (13)(17)“Lists of registered electors” means names and 232 associated information of registered electors maintained by the 233 department in the statewide voter registration system or 234 generated or derived from the statewide voter registration 235 system. Lists may be produced in printed or electronic format. 236 (14)(18)“Member of the Merchant Marine” means an 237 individual, other than a member of a uniformed service or an 238 individual employed, enrolled, or maintained on the Great Lakes 239 for the inland waterways, who is: 240 (a) Employed as an officer or crew member of a vessel 241 documented under the laws of the United States, a vessel owned 242 by the United States, or a vessel of foreign-flag registry under 243 charter to or control of the United States; or 244 (b) Enrolled with the United States for employment or 245 training for employment, or maintained by the United States for 246 emergency relief service, as an officer or crew member of such 247 vessel. 248 (15)(19)“Minor political party” is any group as specified 249 in s. 103.095 which on January 1 preceding a primary election 250 does not have registered as members 5 percent of the total 251 registered electors of the state. 252 (16)(20)“Newspaper of general circulation” means a 253 newspaper printed in the language most commonly spoken in the 254 area within which it circulates and which is readily available 255 for purchase by all inhabitants in the area of circulation, but 256 does not include a newspaper intended primarily for members of a 257 particular professional or occupational group, a newspaper the 258 primary function of which is to carry legal notices, or a 259 newspaper that is given away primarily to distribute 260 advertising. 261 (17)(21)“Nominal value” means having a retail value of $10 262 or less. 263 (18)(22)“Nonpartisan office” means an office for which a 264 candidate is prohibited from campaigning or qualifying for 265 election or retention in office based on party affiliation. 266 (19)(23)“Office that serves persons with disabilities” 267 means any state office that takes applications either in person 268 or over the telephone from persons with disabilities for any 269 program, service, or benefit primarily related to their 270 disabilities. 271 (20)(24)“Overseas voter” means: 272 (a) An absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of 273 active duty or service, is absent from the United States on the 274 date of the election involved; 275 (b) A person who resides outside the United States and is 276 qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was 277 domiciled before leaving the United States; or 278 (c) A person who resides outside the United States and, but 279 for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the last place 280 in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United 281 States. 282 (21)(25)“Overvote” means that the elector marks or 283 designates more names than there are persons to be elected to an 284 office or designates more than one answer to a ballot question, 285 and the tabulator records no vote for the office or question. 286 (22)(26)“Persons with disabilities” means individuals who 287 have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits 288 one or more major life activities. 289 (23)(27)“Petition circulator” means an entity or 290 individual who collects signatures for compensation for the 291 purpose of qualifying a proposed constitutional amendment for 292 ballot placement. 293(28) “Polling place” is the building which contains the294polling room where ballots are cast.295(29) “Polling room” means the actual room in which ballots296are cast on election day and during early voting.297 (24)(30)“Primary election” means an election held 298 preceding the general election for the purpose of nominating a 299 party nominee to be voted for in the general election to fill a 300 national, state, county, or district office. 301 (25)(31)“Provisional ballot” means a conditional ballot, 302 the validity of which is determined by the canvassing board. 303 (26)(32)“Public assistance” means assistance provided 304 through the food assistance program under the federal 305 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Medicaid program; 306 the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and 307 Children; and the Temporary Cash Assistance Program. 308 (27)(33)“Public office” means any federal, state, county, 309 municipal, school, or other district office or position which is 310 filled by vote of the electors. 311 (28)(34)“Qualifying educational institution” means any 312 public or private educational institution receiving state 313 financial assistance which has, as its primary mission, the 314 provision of education or training to students who are at least 315 18 years of age, provided such institution has more than 200 316 students enrolled in classes with the institution and provided 317 that the recognized student government organization has 318 requested this designation in writing and has filed the request 319 with the office of the supervisor of elections in the county in 320 which the institution is located. 321 (29)(35)“Special election” is a special election called 322 for the purpose of voting on a party nominee to fill a vacancy 323 in the national, state, county, or district office. 324 (30)(36)“Special primary election” is a special nomination 325 election designated by the Governor, called for the purpose of 326 nominating a party nominee to be voted on in a general or 327 special election. 328 (31)(37)“Supervisor” means the supervisor of elections. 329 (32)(38)“Tactile input device” means a device that 330 provides information to a voting system by means of a voter 331 touching the device, such as a keyboard, and that complies with 332 the requirements of s. 101.56062(1)(k) and (l). 333 (33)(39)“Third-party registration organization” means any 334 person, entity, or organization soliciting or collecting voter 335 registration applications. A third-party voter registration 336 organization does not include: 337 (a) A person who seeks only to register to vote or collect 338 voter registration applications from that person’s spouse, 339 child, or parent; or 340 (b) A person engaged in registering to vote or collecting 341 voter registration applications as an employee or agent of the 342 division, supervisor of elections, Department of Highway Safety 343 and Motor Vehicles, or a voter registration agency. 344 (34)(40)“Undervote” means that the elector does not 345 properly designate any choice for an office or ballot question, 346 and the tabulator records no vote for the office or question. 347 (35)(41)“Uniformed services” means the Army, Navy, Air 348 Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the commissioned corps of 349 the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the 350 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 351 (36)(42)“Voter interface device” means any device that 352 communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a 353 voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates and 354 issues. A voter interface device may not be used to tabulate 355 votes. Any vote tabulation must be based upon a subsequent scan 356 of the marked marksense ballot or the voter-verifiable paper 357 output after the voter interface device process has been 358 completed. 359 (37)(43)“Voter registration agency” means any office that 360 provides public assistance, any office that serves persons with 361 disabilities, any center for independent living, or any public 362 library. 363 (38)(44)“Voter registration official” means any supervisor 364 of elections or individual authorized by the Secretary of State 365 to accept voter registration applications and execute updates to 366 the statewide voter registration system. 367 (39) “Voter services center” means a location that is 368 designated by the supervisor of elections to provide services as 369 specified in s. 101.012. 370 (40)(45)“Voting booth” or “booth” means that booth or 371 enclosure at a voter services center wherein an elector casts 372 his or her ballot for tabulation by an electronic or 373 electromechanical device. 374 (41)(46)“Voting system” means a method of casting and 375 processing votes that functions wholly or partly by use of 376 electromechanical or electronic apparatus or by use of marksense 377 ballots and includes, but is not limited to, the procedures for 378 casting and processing votes and the programs, operating 379 manuals, supplies, printouts, and other software necessary for 380 the system’s operation. 381 Section 3. Section 97.026, Florida Statutes, is amended to 382 read: 383 97.026 Forms to be available in alternative formats and via 384 the Internet.—It is the intent of the Legislature that all forms 385 required to be used in chapters 97-106 shall be made available 386 upon request,in alternative formats. Such forms shall include 387 mailvote-by-mailballots as alternative formats for such 388 ballots become available and the Division of Elections is able 389 to certify systems that provide them. Whenever possible, such 390 forms, with the exception of mailvote-by-mailballots, shall be 391 made available by the Department of State via the Internet. 392 Sections that contain such forms include, but are not limited 393 to, ss. 97.051, 97.052, 97.053, 97.057, 97.058, 97.0583, 97.071, 394 97.073, 97.1031, 98.075, 99.021, 100.361, 100.371, 101.003, 395 101.0031, 101.005, 101.045, 101.171, 101.20,101.6103, 101.62,396101.64, 101.65, 101.657,105.031, 106.023, and 106.087. 397 Section 4. Section 97.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to 398 read: 399 97.061 Special registration for electors requiring 400 assistance.— 401 (1) Any person who is eligible to register and who is 402 unable to read or write or who, because of some disability, 403 needs assistance in voting shall upon that person’s request be 404 registered under the procedure prescribed by this section and is 405shall beentitled to receive assistance with votingat the polls406 under the conditions prescribed by this section. 407 (2) If a person is qualified to register pursuant to this 408 section, the voter registration official shall note in that 409 person’s registration record that the person needs assistance in 410 voting. 411 (3)The precinct register generated by the supervisor shall412contain a notation that such person is eligible for assistance413in voting, andThe supervisor may make a notation on the voter 414 information card that such person is eligible for assistance in 415 voting. Such person shall be entitled to receive the assistance 416 of two election officials or some other person of his or her own 417 choice, other than the person’s employer, the agent of the 418 person’s employer, or an officer or agent of the person’s union, 419 without the necessity of executing the “Declaration to Secure 420 Assistance” prescribed in s. 101.051. Such person shall notify 421 the supervisor of any change in his or her condition which makes 422 it unnecessary for him or her to receive assistance in voting. 423 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 97.071, 424 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 425 97.071 Voter information card.— 426 (1) A voter information card shall be furnished by the 427 supervisor to all registered voters residing in the supervisor’s 428 county. The card must contain: 429 (a) Voter’s registration number. 430 (b) Date of registration. 431 (c) Full name. 432 (d) Party affiliation. 433 (e) Date of birth. 434 (f) Address of legal residence. 435 (g) Precinct number. 436 (h)Polling place address.437(i)Name of supervisor and contact information of 438 supervisor. 439 (i)(j)Other information deemed necessary by the 440 supervisor. 441 (3) In the case of a change of name, address of legal 442 residence,polling place address,or party affiliation, the 443 supervisor shall issue the voter a new voter information card. 444 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 445 98.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 446 98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.— 447 (4) 448 (c) The supervisor must designate as inactive all voters 449 who have been sent an address confirmation final notice and who 450 have not returned the postage prepaid, preaddressed return form 451 within 30 days or for which the final notice has been returned 452 as undeliverable. Names on the inactive list may not be used to 453 calculate the number of signatures needed on any petition. A 454 voter on the inactive list may be restored to the active list of 455 voters upon the voter updating his or her registration,456requesting a vote-by-mail ballot,or appearing to vote. However, 457 if the voter does not update his or her voter registration 458 information, request a vote-by-mail ballot,or vote by the 459 second general election after being placed on the inactive list, 460 the voter’s name shall be removed from the statewide voter 461 registration system and the voter shall be required to 462 reregister to have his or her name restored to the statewide 463 voter registration system. 464 Section 7. Subsection (4) of section 98.077, Florida 465 Statutes, is amended to read: 466 98.077 Update of voter signature.— 467 (4) Except as authorized in ss. 101.0091 and 101.048ss.468101.048 and 101.68: 469 (a) All signature updates for use in verifyingvote-by-mail470and provisionalballots must be received by the appropriate 471 supervisor before the elector’s ballot is received by the 472 supervisor or, in the case of provisional ballots, before the 473 elector’s ballot is cast. 474 (b) The signature on file at the time thevote-by-mail475 ballot is received or at the time the provisional ballot is cast 476 is the signature that shall be used in verifying the signature 477 on the voter’s certificatethe vote-by-mailand provisional 478 ballot voter’s certificatecertificates, respectively. 479 Section 8. Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (1) and 480 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 98.0981, Florida 481 Statutes, are amended to read: 482 98.0981 Reports; voting history; statewide voter 483 registration system information; precinct-level election 484 results; book closing statistics.— 485 (1) VOTING HISTORY AND STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM 486 INFORMATION.— 487 (b) After receipt of the information in paragraph (a), the 488 department shall prepare a report in electronic format which 489 contains the following information, separately compiled for the 490 primary and general election for all voters qualified to vote in 491 either election: 492 1. The unique identifier assigned to each qualified voter 493 within the statewide voter registration system; 494 2. All information provided by each qualified voter on his 495 or her voter registration application pursuant to s. 97.052(2), 496 except that which is confidential or exempt from public records 497 requirements; 498 3. Each qualified voter’s date of registration; 499 4. Each qualified voter’s current state representative 500 district, state senatorial district, and congressional district, 501 assigned by the supervisor of elections; 502 5. Each qualified voter’s current precinct; and 503 6. Voting history as transmitted under paragraph (a) to 504 include whether the qualified voter voted at a voter services 505 center or the supervisor’s officeprecinct location, voted506during the early voting period, voted by mailvote-by-mail507ballot, attempted to vote by mail but the ballotvote-by-mail508ballot thatwas not counted, attempted to vote by provisional 509 ballot but the ballotthatwas not counted, or did not vote. 510 (d) File specifications are as follows: 511 1. The file shall contain records designated by the 512 categories below for all qualified voters who, regardless of the 513 voter’s county of residence or active or inactive registration 514 status at the book closing for the corresponding election that 515 the file is being created for: 516 a. Voted a regular ballot by mailat a precinct location. 517 b. Votedat a precinct locationusing a provisional ballot 518 that was subsequently counted. 519 c. Voted a regular ballot at a voter services center or the 520 supervisor’s officeduring the early voting period. 521d. Voted during the early voting period using a provisional522ballot that was subsequently counted.523e. Voted by vote-by-mail ballot.524 d.f.Attempted to vote by mailvote-by-mail ballot, but the 525 ballot was not counted. 526 e.g.Attempted to vote by provisional ballot, but the 527 ballot was not counted in that election. 528 2. Each file shall be created or converted into a tab 529 delimited format. 530 3. File names shall adhere to the following convention: 531 a. Three-character county identifier as established by the 532 department followed by an underscore. 533 b. Followed by four-character file type identifier of 534 “VHO3” followed by an underscore. 535 c. Followed by FVRS election ID followed by an underscore. 536 d. Followed by Date Created followed by an underscore. 537 e. Date format is YYYYMMDD. 538 f. Followed by Time Created - HHMMSS. 539 g. Followed by “.txt”. 540 4. Each record shall contain the following columns: Record 541 Identifier, FVRS Voter ID Number, FVRS Election ID Number, Vote 542 Date, Vote History Code, Precinct, Congressional District, House 543 District, Senate District, County Commission District, and 544 School Board District. 545 (2) PRECINCT-LEVEL ELECTION RESULTS.— 546 (a) Within 30 days after certification by the Elections 547 Canvassing Commission of a presidential preference primary 548 election, special election, primary election, or general 549 election, the supervisors of elections shall collect and submit 550 to the department precinct-level election results for the 551 election in a uniform electronic format specified by paragraph 552 (c). The precinct-level election results shall be compiled 553 separately for the primary or special primary election that 554 preceded the general or special general election, respectively. 555 The results shall specifically include for each precinct the 556 total of all ballots cast for each candidate or nominee to fill 557 a national, state, county, or district office or proposed 558 constitutional amendment, with subtotals for each candidate and 559 ballot type, unless fewer than 30 voters voted a ballot type. 560 “All ballots cast” means ballots cast by voters who cast a 561 ballot whether by mailat a precinct location, by vote-by-mail562ballot, including overseasvote-by-mailballots, in person, 563during the early voting period, or by provisional ballot. 564 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 98.255, Florida 565 Statutes, is amended to read: 566 98.255 Voter education programs.— 567 (1) The Department of State shall adopt rules prescribing 568 minimum standards for nonpartisan voter education. The standards 569 shall, at a minimum, address: 570 (a) Voter registration; 571 (b) Balloting procedures, by mail and polling place; 572 (c) Voter rights and responsibilities; 573 (d) Distribution of sample ballots; and 574 (e) Public service announcements. 575 Section 10. Section 98.461, Florida Statutes, is amended to 576 read: 577 98.461 Registration application, precinct register; 578 contents.— 579(1)A registration application, approved by the Department 580 of State, containing the information required in s. 97.052 shall 581 be retained by the supervisor of elections of the county of the 582 applicant’s registration. However, the registration application 583 may be microfilmed and such microfilm substituted for the 584 original registration application; or, when voter registration 585 information, including the voter’s signature, is maintained 586 digitally or on electronic, magnetic, or optic media, such 587 stored information may be substituted for the original 588 registration application. Such microfilms or stored information 589 shall be retained in the custody of the supervisor of elections 590 of the county of the applicant’s registration. In the event the 591 original registration applications are microfilmed or maintained 592 digitally or on electronic or other media, such originals may be 593 destroyed in accordance with the schedule approved by the Bureau 594 of Archives and Records Management of the Division of Library 595 and Information Services of the Department of State. 596(2) A computer printout or electronic database shall be597used at the polls as a precinct register. The precinct register598shall contain the date of the election, the precinct number, and599the following information concerning each registered elector:600last name, first name, middle name or initial, and suffix; party601affiliation; residence address; registration number; date of602birth; sex, if provided; race, if provided; whether the voter603needs assistance in voting; and such other additional604information as to readily identify the elector. The precinct605register shall also contain a space for the elector’s signature606and a space for the initials of the witnessing clerk or607inspector or an electronic device may be provided for this608purpose.609 Section 11. Section 100.0001, Florida Statutes, is created 610 to read: 611 100.0001 Elections to be conducted by mail.—All elections 612 in this state shall be conducted by mail. The department shall 613 adopt any rules necessary to provide for uniformity in the 614 conduct of elections by mail and the procedures for conducting 615 elections by mail. 616 Section 12. Section 100.011, Florida Statutes, is amended 617 to read: 618 100.011 ElectionOpening and closing of polls, all619elections;expenses.— 620 (1)The polls shall be open at the voting places at 7:00621a.m., on the day of the election, and shall be kept open until6227:00 p.m., of the same day, and the time shall be regulated by623the customary time in standard use in the county seat of the624locality. The inspectors shall make public proclamation of the625opening and closing of the polls. During the election and626canvass of the votes, the ballot box shall not be concealed. Any627elector who is in line at the time of the official closing of628the polls shall be allowed to cast a vote in the election.629(2) The time of opening and closing of the polls shall be630observed in all elections held in this state, including631municipal and school elections.632(3)The expenses of holding all elections for county and 633 state offices necessarily incurred shall be paid out of the 634 treasury of the county or state, as the case may be, in the same 635 manner and by the same officers as in general elections. 636 (2)(a)(4)(a)The provisions of any special law to the 637 contrary notwithstanding, the expenses of holding a special 638 district or community development district election, or the 639 district’s proportionate share of regular election costs, as the 640 case may be, shall be paid out of the district’s treasury and in 641 the same manner as in general elections. This subsection applies 642 to any district, whether created by or pursuant to special or 643 general law, which is a special district as defined in s. 644 200.001(8)(c) or a community development district as defined in 645 s. 190.003(6). 646 (b) The provisions of any special law to the contrary 647 notwithstanding, the supervisor of elections may impose an 648 interest penalty on any amount due and owing to him or her from 649 a special district or community development district if payment 650 is not made within 30 days from receipt of the bill or within 10 651 working days of the required time authorized by interlocal 652 agreement. The rate of such interest shall be the rate 653 established pursuant to s. 55.03. 654 (c) The provisions of any special law to the contrary 655 notwithstanding, all independent and dependent special district 656 elections, with the exception of community development district 657 elections, shall be conducted in accordance with the 658 requirements of ss. 189.04 and 189.041. 659 Section 13. Section 100.032, Florida Statutes, is amended 660 to read: 661 100.032 Election preparation report; general election.—Each 662 supervisor of elections must post a report on his or her 663 official website at least 3 months before a general election 664 which outlines preparations for the upcoming general election. 665 The report must include, at a minimum, the following elements: 666 the anticipated staffing levels during theearlyvoting period,667on election dayand after election day; and the anticipated 668 amount of automatic tabulating equipment at each voter services 669 centerearly voting site and polling place. 670 Section 14. Section 100.221, Florida Statutes, is amended 671 to read: 672 100.221 General election laws to govern bond referenda.—The 673 laws governing the holding of general elections are applicable 674 to bond referenda, except as provided in ss. 100.201-100.351.A675county, district, or municipality is not required to offer early676voting for a bond referendum that is not held in conjunction677with a county or state election. The places for voting in a bond678referendum shall be the same as the places for voting in general679elections when a bond referendum is held in the county or680district; however, when a bond referendum is held in a681municipality, the polling places shall be the same as in other682municipal elections.683 Section 15. Paragraph (e) of subsection (13) of section 684 100.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 685 100.371 Initiatives; procedure for placement on ballot.— 686 (13) 687 (e)1. Any financial impact statement that the Supreme Court 688 finds not to be in accordance with this subsection shall be 689 remanded solely to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference 690 for redrafting, provided the court’s advisory opinion is 691 rendered at least 75 days before the election at which the 692 question of ratifying the amendment will be presented. The 693 Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall prepare and adopt a 694 revised financial impact statement no later than 5 p.m. on the 695 15th day after the date of the court’s opinion. 696 2. If, by 5 p.m. on the 75th day before the election, the 697 Supreme Court has not issued an advisory opinion on the initial 698 financial impact statement prepared by the Financial Impact 699 Estimating Conference for an initiative amendment that otherwise 700 meets the legal requirements for ballot placement, the financial 701 impact statement shall be deemed approved for placement on the 702 ballot. 703 3. In addition to the financial impact statement required 704 by this subsection, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference 705 shall draft an initiative financial information statement. The 706 initiative financial information statement should describe in 707 greater detail than the financial impact statement any projected 708 increase or decrease in revenues or costs that the state or 709 local governments would likely experience and the estimated 710 economic impact on the state and local economy if the ballot 711 measure were approved. If appropriate, the initiative financial 712 information statement may include both estimated dollar amounts 713 and a description placing the estimated dollar amounts into 714 context. The initiative financial information statement must 715 include both a summary of not more than 500 words and additional 716 detailed information that includes the assumptions that were 717 made to develop the financial impacts, workpapers, and any other 718 information deemed relevant by the Financial Impact Estimating 719 Conference. 720 4. The Department of State shall have printed, and shall 721 furnish to each supervisor of elections, a copy of the summary 722 from the initiative financial information statements. The 723 supervisors shall have the summary from the initiative financial 724 information statements available at each voter services center 725polling placeand at the main office of the supervisor of 726 elections upon request. 727 5. The Secretary of State and the Office of Economic and 728 Demographic Research shall make available on the Internet each 729 initiative financial information statement in its entirety. In 730 addition, each supervisor of elections whose office has a 731 website shall post the summary from each initiative financial 732 information statement on the website. Each supervisor shall 733 include a copy of each summary from the initiative financial 734 information statements and the Internet addresses for the 735 information statements on the Secretary of State’s and the 736 Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s websites in the 737 publication or mailing required by s. 101.20. 738 Section 16. Section 101.001, Florida Statutes, is amended 739 to read: 740 101.001 PrecinctPrecincts and polling places;boundaries.— 741 (1) The board of county commissioners in each county, upon 742 recommendation and approval of the supervisor, shall alter or 743 create precincts for voting in the county. Each precinct shall 744 be numbered and, as nearly as practicable, composed of 745 contiguous and compact areas.The supervisor shall designate a746polling place at a suitable location within each precinct.The 747 precinct mayshallnot be changed thereafter except with the 748 consent of the supervisor and a majority of the members of the 749 board of county commissioners. The board of county commissioners 750 and the supervisor may have precinct boundaries conform to 751 municipal boundaries in accordance with the provisions of s. 752 101.002, but, in any event, the registration books shall be 753 maintained in such a manner that there may be determined 754 therefrom the total number of electors in each municipality. 755 (2) When in any election there are fewer than 25 registered 756 electors of the only political party having candidates on the 757 ballot at any precinct, such precinct may be combined with other 758 adjoining precincts upon the recommendation of the supervisor 759 and the approval of the county commissioners.Notice of the760combination of precincts shall be given in the same manner as761provided in s. 101.71(2).762 (3)(a) Each supervisor of elections shall maintain a 763 suitable map drawn to a scale no smaller than 3 miles to the 764 inch and clearly delineating all major observable features such 765 as roads, streams, and railway lines and showing the current 766 geographical boundaries of each precinct, representative 767 district, and senatorial district, and other type of district in 768 the county subject to the elections process in this code. 769 (b) The supervisor shall provide to the department data on 770 all precincts in the county associated with the most recent 771 decennial census blocks within each precinct. 772 (c) The department shall maintain a searchable database 773 that contains the precincts and the corresponding most recent 774 decennial census blocks within the precincts for each county, 775 including a historical file that allows the census blocks to be 776 traced through the prior decade. 777 (d) The supervisor of elections shall notify the Secretary 778 of State in writing within 10 days after any reorganization of 779 precincts and shall furnish a copy of the map showing the 780 current geographical boundaries and designation of each new 781 precinct. However, if precincts are composed of whole census 782 blocks, the supervisor may furnish, in lieu of a copy of the 783 map, a list, in an electronic format prescribed by the 784 Department of State, associating each census block in the county 785 with its precinct. 786 (e) Any precinct established or altered under the 787 provisions of this section shall consist of areas bounded on all 788 sides only by census block boundaries from the most recent 789 United States Census. If the census block boundaries split or 790 conflict with another political boundary listed below, the 791 boundary listed below may be used: 792 1. Governmental unit boundaries reported in the most recent 793 Boundary and Annexation Survey published by the United States 794 Census Bureau; 795 2. Visible features that are readily distinguishable upon 796 the ground, such as streets, railroads, tracks, streams, and 797 lakes, and that are indicated upon current census maps, official 798 Department of Transportation maps, official municipal maps, 799 official county maps, or a combination of such maps; 800 3. Boundaries of public parks, public school grounds, or 801 churches; or 802 4. Boundaries of counties, incorporated municipalities, or 803 other political subdivisions that meet criteria established by 804 the United States Census Bureau for block boundaries. 805 (4)(a) Within 10 days after there is any change in the 806 division, number, or boundaries of the precincts,or the807location of the polling places,the supervisor of elections 808 shall make in writing an accurate description of any new or 809 altered precincts, setting forth the boundary linesand shall810identify the location of each new or altered polling place. A 811 copy of the document describing such changes shall be posted at 812 the supervisor’s office. 813 (b) Any changes in the county precinct data shall be 814 provided to the department within 10 days after a change. 815 (c) Precinct data shall include all precincts for which 816 precinct-level election results and voting history results are 817 reported. 818 Section 17. Section 101.012, Florida Statutes, is created 819 to read: 820 101.012 Voter services centers.— 821 (1) The supervisor of elections shall establish voter 822 services centers to: 823 (a) Provide in-person voting for persons with disabilities 824 as required by law. 825 (b) Allow an elector to request and obtain a replacement 826 ballot if a mail ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not 827 received by the elector; or in the event of an election held for 828 the purpose of nominating a political party nominee, an elector 829 may request and obtain a replacement ballot for the elector’s 830 newly designated party affiliation if the elector updated his or 831 her party affiliation before the book-closing deadline but after 832 the supervisor has mailed out ballots pursuant to s. 101.003. 833 (c) Provide secure drop boxes for electors to return voted 834 mail ballots. 835 (d) Allow an elector to update his or her residence or name 836 in accordance with s. 101.045. 837 (e) Allow a person whose eligibility to vote cannot be 838 determined to cast a provisional ballot in accordance with s. 839 101.048. 840 (f) Allow an elector to submit a cure affidavit for a mail 841 ballot or a provisional ballot. 842 (g) Allow an elector whose voter registration has been 843 designated as inactive to obtain a ballot. 844 (2) The supervisor shall designate each voter services 845 center by no later than the 30th day before an election. The 846 supervisor shall provide to the division no later than the 30th 847 day before an election the address of each voter services center 848 and the hours of operation of each center. 849 (3) In addition to any main or branch office of the 850 supervisor, the supervisor may designate any city hall, 851 permanent public library facility, fairground, civic center, 852 courthouse, county commission building, stadium, convention 853 center, government-owned senior center, or government-owned 854 community center as a voter services center. In designating the 855 locations of voter services centers, the supervisor must ensure 856 that the center locations are geographically located so as to 857 provide all voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a 858 ballot. Additionally, the supervisor may designate one voter 859 services center per election in an area of the county that does 860 not have any of the eligible locations specified in this 861 subsection. 862 (4) For any election that contains state or federal races, 863 voter services centers shall be open for the period beginning on 864 the 10th day before an election and ending on the day of the 865 election, and be open for at least 8 hours but not more than 12 866 hours per day at each location during the applicable period. In 867 addition, the supervisor may operate voter services centers on 868 the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, or 11th day before an election that 869 contains state or federal races for at least 8 hours per day, 870 but not more than 12 hours per day. The supervisor may operate 871 voter services centers for elections that are not held in 872 conjunction with a state or federal election, but the supervisor 873 has discretion to determine the hours of operation of centers in 874 those elections. 875 (5) All voter services centers in a county must allow any 876 elector in line at the closing of the center to vote or receive 877 other services. 878 Section 18. Section 101.013, Florida Statutes, is created 879 to read: 880 101.013 Secure drop boxes.— 881 (1) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has received 882 a ballot to physically return the voted ballot to the supervisor 883 by placing the envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a 884 secure drop box. Secure drop boxes must be placed at the main 885 office of the supervisor, at each branch office of the 886 supervisor, and at each voter services center. 887 (2) Secure drop boxes may also be placed at any of the 888 locations specified in s. 101.012(3), provided that any such 889 site is staffed during the hours of its operation by an employee 890 of the supervisor’s office or a sworn law enforcement officer. 891 All stand-alone drop box locations must be designated by a sign 892 that is conspicuously posted during the time that such locations 893 are available to receive ballots. 894 (3) All secure drop box locations in a county must allow 895 any elector who is in line waiting to drop off a voted ballot 896 when the location closes to return his or her ballot. 897 Section 19. Section 101.014, Florida Statutes, is created 898 to read: 899 101.014 Replacement ballots.— 900 (1) An elector may obtain a replacement ballot if the 901 mailed ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received by 902 the elector. Replacement ballots may be mailed, made available 903 in the main or branch office of the supervisor, or made 904 available at a voter services center. A replacement ballot may 905 not be mailed to an elector later than 8 days before the 906 election. 907 (2) In order to be issued a replacement ballot, the elector 908 must complete and sign a replacement ballot request form. The 909 department shall prescribe the form by rule. 910 (3)(a) If directly instructed in writing by the elector, a 911 member of the elector’s immediate family or the elector’s legal 912 guardian may request a replacement ballot. For purposes of this 913 paragraph, the term “immediate family” means the elector’s 914 spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the 915 elector. The person making the request must disclose: 916 1. The name of the elector for whom the ballot is 917 requested. 918 2. The elector’s address. 919 3. The elector’s date of birth. 920 4. The requester’s name. 921 5. The requester’s address. 922 6. The requester’s driver license number, if available. 923 7. The requester’s relationship to the elector. 924 8. The requester’s signature. 925 (b) If the supervisor or his or her designee is satisfied 926 that the designee is authorized to pick up the replacement 927 ballot and that the signature of the elector on the written 928 authorization matches the signature of the elector on file, the 929 supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee for delivery 930 to the elector. 931 (4) Upon receiving a request for a replacement ballot, the 932 supervisor shall: 933 (a) Verify the registration of the elector and ensure that 934 another ballot has not been returned by the elector; 935 (b) Note in the list of electors that the elector has 936 requested a replacement ballot; 937 (c) Mark the mailing envelope clearly so that it may be 938 readily identified as a replacement ballot; and 939 (d) Issue the replacement ballot by mail or other means. 940 (5) The completed and signed replacement ballot request 941 form and the voted replacement ballot must be received by the 942 supervisor of elections by 7 p.m. on election day in order to be 943 counted. 944 Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 945 101.015, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 946 101.015 Standards for voting systems.— 947 (4) 948 (b)1. Each supervisor shall establish written procedures to 949 assure accuracy and security in his or her county, including 950 procedures related to the operation of voter services centers 951early voting pursuant to s. 101.657. Such procedures shall be 952 reviewed in each odd-numbered year by the department. 953 2. Each supervisor shall submit any revisions to the 954 security procedures to the department at least 45 days before 955 voter services centers are scheduled to open pursuant to s. 956 101.012early voting commences pursuant to s. 101.657in an 957 election in which they are to take effect. 958 Section 21. Section 101.031, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 959 Section 22. Section 101.043, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 960 Section 23. Subsection (2) of section 101.045, Florida 961 Statutes, is amended to read: 962 101.045 Electors must be registered in precinct; provisions 963 for change of residence or name.— 964 (2)(a) An elector who moves from the precinct in which the 965 elector is registered may vote in the precinct to which he or 966 she has moved his or her legal residence, providedif the change967of residence is within the same county or the precinct to which968the elector has moved his or her legal residence is within a969county that uses an electronic database as a precinct register970at the polling place, andthe elector completes an affirmation 971 in substantially the following form: 972 973 Change of Legal Residence of Registered 974 Voter 975 976 Under penalties for false swearing, I, ...(Name of voter)..., 977 swear (or affirm) that the former address of my legal residence 978 was ...(Address of legal residence)... in the municipality of 979 ...., in .... County, Florida, and I was registered to vote in 980 the .... precinct of .... County, Florida; that I have not voted 981 in the precinct of my former registration in this election; that 982 I now reside at ...(Address of legal residence)... in the 983 Municipality of ...., in .... County, Florida, and am therefore 984 eligible to vote in the .... precinct of .... County, Florida; 985 and I further swear (or affirm) that I am otherwise legally 986 registered and entitled to vote. 987 ...(Signature of voter whose address of legal residence has 988 changed)... 989 990 (b)Except for an active uniformed services voter or a991member of his or her family and except for an elector who has992moved his or her legal residence to a precinct within a county993that uses an electronic database as a precinct register at the994polling place, an elector whose change of address is from995outside the county may not change his or her legal residence at996the polling place and must vote a provisional ballot.997(c)An elector whose name changes because of marriage or 998 other legal process may be permitted to vote, provided such 999 elector completes an affirmation in substantially the following 1000 form: 1001 1002 Change of Name of Registered 1003 Voter 1004 1005 Under penalties for false swearing, I, ...(New name of 1006 voter)..., swear (or affirm) that my name has been changed 1007 because of marriage or other legal process. My former name and 1008 address of legal residence appear on the registration records of 1009 precinct .... as follows: 1010 Name............................................................ 1011 Address......................................................... 1012 Municipality.................................................... 1013 County.......................................................... 1014 Florida, Zip.................................................... 1015 My present name and address of legal residence are as follows: 1016 Name............................................................ 1017 Address......................................................... 1018 Municipality.................................................... 1019 County.......................................................... 1020 Florida, Zip.................................................... 1021 and I further swear (or affirm) that I am otherwise legally 1022 registered and entitled to vote. 1023 1024 ...(Signature of voter whose name has changed)... 1025 1026 (c)(d)Instead of the affirmation contained in paragraph 1027 (a) or paragraph (b)(c), an elector may complete a voter 1028 registration application that indicates the change of name or 1029 change of address of legal residence. 1030 (d)(e)Such affirmation or application, when completed and 1031 presented at the office of the supervisor of elections or a 1032 voter services centerprecinct in which such elector is entitled1033to vote, and upon verification of the elector’s registration, 1034 shall entitle such elector to vote as provided in this 1035 subsection. If the elector’s eligibility to vote cannot be 1036 determined, he or she isshall beentitled to vote a provisional 1037 ballot, subject to the requirements and procedures in s. 1038 101.048. Upon receipt of an affirmation or application 1039 certifying a change in address of legal residence or name, the 1040 supervisor shall as soon as practicable make the necessary 1041 changes in the statewide voter registration system to indicate 1042 the change in address of legal residence or name of such 1043 elector. 1044 Section 24. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection 1045 (2) of section 101.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1046 101.048 Provisional ballots.— 1047 (1) At all elections, a voter who claimsclaimingto be 1048 properly registered in the state and eligible to vote at a 1049 certaintheprecinct in the election but whose eligibility 1050 cannot be determined, a person whom an election official asserts 1051 is not eligible, and other persons specified in the code are 1052shall beentitled to vote a provisional ballot at the office of 1053 the supervisor of elections or a voter services center. Once 1054 voted, the provisional ballot mustshallbe placed in a secrecy 1055 envelope and thereafter sealed in a provisional ballot envelope. 1056 The provisional ballot shall be deposited in a ballot box. All 1057 provisional ballots mustshallremain sealed in their envelopes 1058 until such time that the ballots are reviewed by the county 1059 canvassing boardfor return to the supervisor of elections. The 1060 department shall prescribe the form of the provisional ballot 1061 envelope. A person casting a provisional ballot hasshall have1062 the right to present written evidence supporting his or her 1063 eligibility to vote to the supervisor of elections by not later 1064 than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election. 1065 (2) 1066 (b) If it is determined that the person was registered and 1067 entitled to vote inatthe precinct where the person cast a vote 1068 in the election, the canvassing board must compare the signature 1069 on the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation or 1070 the provisional ballot cure affidavit with the signature on the 1071 voter’s registration or precinct register. A provisional ballot 1072 may be counted only if: 1073 1. The signature on the voter’s certificate or the cure 1074 affidavit matches the elector’s signature in the registration 1075 booksor the precinct register; however, in the case of a cure 1076 affidavit, the supporting identification listed in subsection 1077 (6) must also confirm the identity of the elector; or 1078 2. The cure affidavit contains a signature that does not 1079 match the elector’s signature in the registration booksor the1080precinct register, but the elector has submitted a current and 1081 valid Tier 1 form of identification confirming his or her 1082 identity pursuant to subsection (6). 1083 1084 For purposes of this paragraph, any canvassing board finding 1085 that signatures do not match must be by majority vote and beyond 1086 a reasonable doubt. 1087 Section 25. Subsection (4) of section 101.049, Florida 1088 Statutes, is amended to read: 1089 101.049 Provisional ballots; special circumstances.— 1090 (4) This section doesshallnot apply to voters in line at 1091 the poll-closing timeprovided in s. 100.011who cast their 1092 ballots subsequent to that time. 1093 Section 26. Section 101.051, Florida Statutes, is amended 1094 to read: 1095 101.051 Electors seeking assistance in casting ballots; 1096 oath to be executed; forms to be furnished.— 1097 (1) Any elector applying to vote in any election who 1098 requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, 1099 or inability to read or write may request the assistance of two 1100 election officials or some other person of the elector’s own 1101 choice, other than the elector’s employer, an agent of the 1102 employer, or an officer or agent of his or her union, to assist 1103 the elector in casting his or her vote. Any such elector, before 1104 retiring to the voting booth, may have one of such persons read 1105 over to him or her, without suggestion or interference, the 1106 titles of the offices to be filled and the candidates therefor 1107 and the issues on the ballot. After the elector requests the aid 1108 of the two election officials or the person of the elector’s 1109 choice, they shall retire to the voting booth for the purpose of 1110 casting the elector’s vote according to the elector’s choice. 1111 (2) It is unlawful for any person to be in the voting booth 1112 with any elector except as provided in subsection (1). A person 1113 at a voter services centerpolling place or early voting site, 1114 or within 100 feet of the entrance of a voter services center 1115polling place or early voting site, may not solicit any elector 1116 in an effort to provide assistance to vote pursuant to 1117 subsection (1). Any person who violates this subsection commits 1118 a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 1119 775.082 or s. 775.083. 1120 (3) Any elector who plansapplyingto cast avote-by-mail1121 ballot by mailin the office of the supervisor, in any election,1122 who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, 1123 disability, or inability to read or write may request the 1124 assistance of some person of his or her own choice, other than 1125 the elector’s employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer 1126 or agent of his or her union, in casting his or hervote-by-mail1127 ballot. 1128 (4) If an elector needs assistance in voting pursuant to 1129 the provisions of this section, the clerk or one of the 1130 inspectors shall require the elector requesting assistance in 1131 voting to take the following oath: 1132 1133 DECLARATION TO SECURE ASSISTANCE 1134 1135 State of Florida 1136 County of .... 1137 Date .... 1138 Precinct .... 1139 1140 I, ...(Print name)..., swear or affirm that I am a 1141 registered elector and request assistance from ...(Print 1142 names)... in voting at the ...(name of election)... held on 1143 ...(date of election).... 1144 1145 ...(Signature of voter)... 1146 1147 Sworn and subscribed to before me this .... day of ...., 1148 ...(year).... 1149 1150 ...(Signature of Official Administering Oath)... 1151 1152 (5) If an elector needing assistance requests that a person 1153 other than an election official provide him or her with 1154 assistance in voting, the clerk or one of the inspectors shall 1155 require the person providing assistance to take the following 1156 oath: 1157 1158 DECLARATION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE 1159 1160 State of Florida 1161 County of .... 1162 Date .... 1163 Precinct .... 1164 1165 I, ...(Print name)..., have been requested by ...(print 1166 name of elector needing assistance)... to provide him or her 1167 with assistance to vote. I swear or affirm that I am not the 1168 employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of 1169 the union of the voter and that I have not solicited this voter 1170 at the voter services centerpolling place or early voting site1171 or within 100 feet of the centersuchlocationsin an effort to 1172 provide assistance. 1173 1174 ...(Signature of assistor)... 1175 1176 Sworn and subscribed to before me this .... day of ...., 1177 ...(year).... 1178 1179 ...(Signature of Official Administering Oath)... 1180 1181 (6) The supervisor of elections shall deliver a sufficient 1182 number of these forms to each voter services centerprecinct, 1183 along with other election paraphernalia. 1184 Section 27. Section 101.111, Florida Statutes, is amended 1185 to read: 1186 101.111 Voter challenges.— 1187 (1)(a) Any registered elector orpollwatcher of a county 1188 may challenge the right of a person to vote in that county. The 1189 challenge must be in writing and contain the following oath, 1190 which shall be delivered to the clerk or inspector: 1191 1192 OATH OF PERSON ENTERING CHALLENGE 1193 1194 State of Florida 1195 County of .... 1196 1197 I do solemnly swear or affirm that my name is ....; that I am a 1198 member of the .... Party; that I am a registered voter or 1199 watcherpollwatcher; that my residence address is ...., in the 1200 municipality of ....; and that I have reason to believe that 1201 .... is attempting to vote illegally and the reasons for my 1202 belief are set forth herein to wit: 1203 ................................................................ 1204 ................................................................ 1205 ...(Signature of person challenging voter)... 1206 1207 Sworn and subscribed to before me this .... day of ...., 1208 ...(year).... 1209 ...(Clerk of election)... 1210 1211 (b)1. The clerk or inspector shall immediately deliver to 1212 the challenged person a copy of the oath of the person entering 1213 the challenge, and the challenged voter shall be allowed to cast 1214 a provisional ballot in accordance with s. 101.048, except as 1215 provided in subparagraph 2. 1216 2. If the basis for the challenge is that the person’s 1217 legal residence is not in a certainthatprecinct, the person 1218 shall first be given the opportunity to execute a change of 1219 legal residence in order to be able to vote a regular ballot in 1220 accordance with s. 101.045(2). If the change of legal residence 1221 is such that the person is then properly registered for that 1222 precinct, the person shall be allowed to vote a regular ballot. 1223 If the change of legal residence places the person in another 1224 precinct, the person shall be issued a ballot in accordance with 1225directed tothe proper precinctto vote. If such person insists 1226 that he or sheiscurrently resides in the initially designated 1227properprecinct, the person shall be allowed to vote a 1228 provisional ballot in accordance with s. 101.048. 1229 (c) Alternatively, a challenge in accordance with this 1230 section may be filed in advance with the supervisor of elections 1231 no sooner than 30 days before an election.The supervisor shall1232promptly provide the election board in the challenged voter’s1233precinct with a copy of the oath of the person entering the1234challenge.The challenged voter shall be allowed to cast a 1235 provisional ballot in accordance with s. 101.048, subject to the 1236 provisions of subparagraph (b)2. 1237 (2) Any elector orpollwatcher filing a frivolous 1238 challenge of any person’s right to vote commits a misdemeanor of 1239 the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 1240 775.083; however, an elector or a watcher is notelectors or1241poll watchers shall not besubject to liability for any action 1242 taken in good faith and in furtherance of any activity or duty 1243 permitted of such electors orpollwatchers by law. Each 1244 instance where any elector orpollwatcher files a frivolous 1245 challenge of any person’s right to vote constitutes a separate 1246 offense. 1247 Section 28. Section 101.131, Florida Statutes, is amended 1248 to read: 1249 101.131 Appointment of watchersat polls.— 1250 (1) Each political party and each candidate may appoint 1251haveone watcher in each voter services centerpolling room or1252early voting areaat any one time during the election. A 1253 political committee formed for the specific purpose of expressly 1254 advocating the passage or defeat of an issue on the ballot may 1255 appointhaveone watcher for each voter services centerpolling1256room or early voting areaat any one time during the election. 1257 No watcher shall be permitted to come closer to the officials’ 1258 table or the voting booths than is reasonably necessary to 1259 properly perform his or her functions, but each shall be allowed 1260 within thepolling room or earlyvoting area to watch and 1261 observe the conduct of electors and officials. Thepollwatchers 1262 shall furnish their own materials and necessities and shall not 1263 obstruct the orderly conduct of any election. Thepollwatchers 1264 shall pose any questions regarding voter services centerpolling1265placeprocedures directly to the clerk for resolution. They may 1266 not interact with voters. Eachpollwatcher shall be a qualified 1267 and registered elector of the county in which he or she serves. 1268 (2) Each party, each political committee, and each 1269 candidate requesting to havepollwatchers shall designate those 1270 individuals, in writing to the supervisors of elections, on a 1271 form prescribed by the division,before noon of the second1272Tuesday preceding the election poll watchers for each polling1273room on election day. Designations of poll watchers for early1274voting areas shall be submitted in writing to the supervisor of1275elections, on a form prescribed by the division,before noon at 1276 least 14 days before the in-personearlyvoting period begins. 1277The poll watchers for polling rooms shall be approved by the1278supervisor of elections on or before the Tuesday before the1279election. Poll watchers for early voting areas shall be approved1280by the supervisor of elections no later than 7 days before early1281voting begins.The supervisor shall furnish to each election 1282 board a list of the poll watchers designated and approved for 1283 such voter services centerpolling rooms or early voting areas. 1284 Designation ofpollwatchers shall be made by the chair of the 1285 county executive committee of a political party, the chair of a 1286 political committee, or the candidate requesting to havepoll1287 watchers. 1288 (3) No candidate or sheriff, deputy sheriff, police 1289 officer, or other law enforcement officer may be designated as a 1290pollwatcher. 1291 (4) Allpollwatchers shall be allowed to enter and watch 1292 voting areaspollsin all voter services centerspolling rooms1293and early voting areaswithin the county in which they have been 1294 designated if the number ofpollwatchers at any particular 1295 centerpolling placedoes not exceed the number provided in this 1296 section. 1297 (5) The supervisor of elections shall provide to each 1298 designatedpollwatcher, no later than 7 days before in-person 1299earlyvoting begins, apollwatcher identification badge that 1300 identifies thepollwatcher by name. Eachpollwatcher must wear 1301 his or her identification badge while in thepolling room or1302earlyvoting area. 1303 Section 29. Subsection (1) of section 101.151, Florida 1304 Statutes, is amended to read: 1305 101.151 Specifications for ballots.— 1306 (1)(a) Marksense ballots mustshallbe printed on paper of 1307 such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from 1308 the back and mustshallmeet the specifications of the voting 1309 system that will be used to tabulate the ballots. 1310 (b) Voter services centersPolling places and early voting1311sitesmay employ a ballot-on-demand production system to print 1312 individual marksense ballots, including provisional ballots, for 1313 eligible electors. Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to 1314 produce marksensevote-by-mail and election-dayballots. 1315 Section 30. Section 101.171, Florida Statutes, is amended 1316 to read: 1317 101.171 Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at 1318 voting locations.—Whenever any amendment to the State 1319 Constitution is to be voted upon at any election, the department 1320of Stateshall have printed and shall furnish to each supervisor 1321 of elections a sufficient number of copies of the amendment 1322 either in poster or booklet form, and the supervisor shall have 1323 a copy thereof conspicuously posted or available at each voter 1324 services centerpolling room or early voting area upon the day1325of election. 1326 Section 31. Section 101.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to 1327 read: 1328 101.20 Publication of ballot form; Sample ballots.— 1329 (1) Two sample ballots shall be furnished to each voter 1330 services centerpolling placeby the officer whose duty it is to 1331 provide official ballots.The sample ballots shall be in the1332form of the official ballot as it will appear at that polling1333place on election day.Sample ballots shall be open to 1334 inspection by all electors in any election, and a sufficient 1335 number of reduced-size ballots may be furnished to election 1336 officials so that one may be given to any elector desiring same. 1337 (2)(a) Upon completion of the list of qualified candidates, 1338 a sample ballot shall be published by the supervisor in a 1339 newspaper of general circulation in the county, at least 30 days 1340 before the day of election. 1341 (b) In lieu of the publication required under paragraph 1342 (a), a supervisor may send a sample ballot to each registered 1343 elector by e-mail at least 307days before the day ofan1344 election if an e-mail address has been provided and the elector 1345 has opted to receive a sample ballot by electronic delivery. If 1346 an e-mail address has not been provided, or if the elector has 1347 not opted for electronic delivery, a sample ballot may be mailed 1348 to each registered elector or to each household in which there 1349 is a registered elector at least 307days before the day ofan1350 election. 1351 Section 32. Section 101.23, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1352 Section 33. Section 101.24, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1353 Section 34. Section 101.43, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1354 Section 35. Section 101.49, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1355 Section 36. Section 101.51, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1356 Section 37. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and subsection 1357 (2) of section 101.56062, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1358 101.56062 Standards for accessible voting systems.— 1359 (1) Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the 1360 contrary, each voting system certified by the departmentof1361Statefor use in local, state, and federal elections must 1362 include the capability to install accessible voter interface 1363 devices in the system configuration which will allow the system 1364 to meet the following minimum standards: 1365 (f) Any voting system that requires any visual perception 1366 must offer the election official who programs the system, prior 1367 to its being sent to the voter services centerpolling place, 1368 the capability to set the font size, as it appears to the voter, 1369 from a minimum of 14 points to a maximum of 24 points. 1370 (2) Such voting system must include at least one accessible 1371 voter interface device installed in each voter services center 1372polling placewhich meets the requirements of this section, 1373 except for paragraph (1)(d). 1374 Section 38. Section 101.56063, Florida Statutes, is amended 1375 to read: 1376 101.56063 Accessibility of voting systems and voter 1377 services centerspolling places; intent; eligibility for federal 1378 funding.—It is the intent of the Legislature that this state be 1379 eligible for any funds that are available from the Federal 1380 Government to assist states in providing or improving 1381 accessibility of voting systems and voter services centers 1382polling placesfor persons having a disability. Accordingly, all 1383 state laws, rules, standards, and codes governing voting systems 1384 and voter services centerpolling placeaccessibility must be 1385 maintained to ensure the state’s eligibility to receive federal 1386 funds. It is the intent of the Legislature that all state 1387 requirements meet or exceed the minimum federal requirements for 1388 voting systems and voter services centerpolling place1389 accessibility.This section shall take effect upon this act1390becoming a law.1391 Section 39. Section 101.5608, Florida Statutes, is 1392 repealed. 1393 Section 40. Section 101.5610, Florida Statutes, is amended 1394 to read: 1395 101.5610 Inspection of ballot by election board.—The 1396 election boardof each precinctshall cause the voting devices 1397 to be put in order, set, adjusted, and made ready for voting 1398 when delivered to voter services centersthe polling places. 1399 Before the opening of the centerspolls, the election board 1400 shall compare the ballots or the ballot information used in the 1401 voting devices with the sample ballots furnished and see that 1402 the names, numbers, and letters thereon agree and shall certify 1403 thereto on forms provided by the supervisor of elections. 1404 Section 41. Section 101.5611, Florida Statutes, is amended 1405 to read: 1406 101.5611 Instructions to electors.— 1407 (1) The supervisor of elections shall provide instruction 1408 at each voter services centerpolling placeregarding the manner 1409 of voting with the system. In instructing voters, no election 1410precinctofficial may favor any political party, candidate, or 1411 issue. Such instruction shall show the arrangement of candidates 1412 and questions to be voted on. Additionally, the supervisor of 1413 elections shall provide instruction on the proper method of 1414 casting a ballot for the specific voting system utilized in that 1415 jurisdiction. Such instruction shall be provided at a place 1416 which voters must pass to reach the official voting booth. 1417 (2) The supervisor of elections shall have posted at each 1418 voter services center and drop box locationpolling placea 1419 notice that reads: “A person who commits or attempts to commit 1420 any fraud in connection with voting, votes a fraudulent ballot, 1421 or votes more than once in an election can be convicted of a 1422 felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or 1423 imprisoned for up to 5 years.” 1424 Section 42. Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection 1425 (4) of section 101.5612, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1426 101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.— 1427 (2) On any day not more than 10 days prior to voter 1428 services centers openingthe commencement of early votingas 1429 provided in s. 101.012s. 101.657, the supervisor of elections 1430 shall have the automatic tabulating equipment publicly tested to 1431 ascertain that the equipment will correctly count the votes cast 1432 for all offices and on all measures. If the ballots to be used 1433 in the electionat the polling place on election dayare not 1434 available at the time of the testing, the supervisor may conduct 1435 an additional test not more than 10 days before election day. 1436 Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given 1437 at least 48 hours prior thereto by publication on the supervisor 1438 of elections’ website and once in one or more newspapers of 1439 general circulation in the county or, if there is no newspaper 1440 of general circulation in the county, by posting the notice in 1441 at least four conspicuous places in the county. The supervisor 1442 or the municipal elections official may, at the time of 1443 qualifying, give written notice of the time and location of the 1444 public preelection test to each candidate qualifying with that 1445 office and obtain a signed receipt that the notice has been 1446 given. The departmentof Stateshall give written notice to each 1447 statewide candidate at the time of qualifying, or immediately at 1448 the end of qualifying, that the voting equipment will be tested 1449 and advise each candidate to contact the county supervisor of 1450 elections as to the time and location of the public preelection 1451 test. The supervisor or the municipal elections official shall, 1452 at least 15 days before the opening of voter services centers 1453prior to the commencement of early votingas provided in s. 1454 101.012s. 101.657, send written notice by certified mail to the 1455 county party chair of each political party and to all candidates 1456 for other than statewide office whose names appear on the ballot 1457 in the county and who did not receive written notification from 1458 the supervisor or municipal elections official at the time of 1459 qualifying, stating the time and location of the public 1460 preelection test of the automatic tabulating equipment. The 1461 canvassing board shall convene, and each member of the 1462 canvassing board shall certify to the accuracy of the test. For 1463 the test, the canvassing board may designate one member to 1464 represent it. The test shall be open to representatives of the 1465 political parties, the press, and the public. Each political 1466 party may designate one person with expertise in the computer 1467 field who shall be allowed in the central counting room when all 1468 tests are being conducted and when the official votes are being 1469 counted. The designee mayshallnot interfere with the normal 1470 operation of the canvassing board. 1471 (4)(a)1.For electronic or electromechanical voting systems1472configured to include electronic or electromechanical tabulation1473devices which are distributed to the precincts, all or a sample1474of the devices to be used in the election shall be publicly1475tested. If a sample is to be tested, the sample shall consist of1476a random selection of at least 5 percent or 10 of the devices1477for an optical scan system, whichever is greater.For 1478 touchscreen systems used for voters having a disability, a 1479 sample of at least 2 percent of the devices must be tested. The 1480 test shall be conducted by processing a group of ballots, 1481 causing the device to output results for the ballots processed, 1482 and comparing the output of results to the results expected for 1483 the ballots processed. The group of ballots shall be produced so 1484 as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each 1485 candidate and on each measure and to include for each office one 1486 or more ballots which have activated voting positions in excess 1487 of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the 1488 tabulating device to reject such votes. 1489 2. If any tested tabulating device is found to have an 1490 error in tabulation, it shall be deemed unsatisfactory. For each 1491 device deemed unsatisfactory, the canvassing board shall take 1492 steps to determine the cause of the error, shall attempt to 1493 identify and test other devices that could reasonably be 1494 expected to have the same error, and shall test a number of 1495 additional devices sufficient to determine that all devices are 1496 satisfactory. Upon deeming any device unsatisfactory, the 1497 canvassing board may require all devices to be tested or may 1498 declare that all devices are unsatisfactory. 1499 3. If the operation or output of any tested tabulation 1500 device, such as spelling or the order of candidates on a report, 1501 is in error, such problem shall be reported to the canvassing 1502 board. The canvassing board shall then determine if the reported 1503 problem warrants its deeming the device unsatisfactory. 1504 Section 43. Section 101.5613, Florida Statutes, is amended 1505 to read: 1506 101.5613 Examination of equipment during voting.—A member 1507 of the election board or, for purposes of early voting pursuant1508to s. 101.657,a representative of the supervisor of elections 1509 shall occasionally examine the face of the voting device and the 1510 ballot information to determine that the device and the ballot 1511 information have not been damaged or tampered with. 1512 Section 44. Section 101.572, Florida Statutes, is amended 1513 to read: 1514 101.572 Public inspection of ballots.—The official ballots 1515 and ballot cards received from election boards and removed from 1516vote-by-mailballot mailing envelopes shall be open for public 1517 inspection or examination while in the custody of the supervisor 1518 of elections or the county canvassing board at any reasonable 1519 time, under reasonable conditions; however, no persons other 1520 than the supervisor of elections or his or her employees or the 1521 county canvassing board shall handle any official ballot or 1522 ballot card. If the ballots are being examined prior to the end 1523 of the contest period in s. 102.168, the supervisor of elections 1524 shall make a reasonable effort to notify all candidates whose 1525 names appear on such ballots or ballot cards by telephone or 1526 otherwise of the time and place of the inspection or 1527 examination. All such candidates, or their representatives, 1528 shall be allowed to be present during the inspection or 1529 examination. 1530 Section 45. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of 1531 section 101.591, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1532 101.591 Voting system audit.— 1533 (2)(a) A manual audit shall consist of a public manual 1534 tally of the votes cast in one randomly selected race that 1535 appears on the ballot. The tally sheet shall include mail 1536election-day, vote-by-mail, early voting, provisional, and 1537 overseas ballots,in at least 1 percent but no more than 2 1538 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county 1539 canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying 1540 the election. If 1 percent of the precincts is less than one 1541 entire precinct, the audit shall be conducted using at least one 1542 precinct chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the 1543 local board responsible for certifying the election. Such 1544 precincts shall be selected at a publicly noticed canvassing 1545 board meeting. 1546 (b) An automated audit shall consist of a public automated 1547 tally of the votes cast across every race that appears on the 1548 ballot. The tally sheet shall include mailelection day, vote1549by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas ballots in at 1550 least 20 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county 1551 canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying 1552 the election. Such precincts shall be selected at a publicly 1553 noticed canvassing board meeting. 1554 Section 46. Sections 101.6101, 101.6102, 101.6103, 1555 101.6104, 101.6105, 101.6106, and 101.6107, Florida Statutes, 1556 are repealed. 1557 Section 47. Section 101.62, Florida Statutes, is 1558 transferred, renumbered as section 101.0031, and amended to 1559 read: 1560 101.0031 Ballot information; public records exemption 1561101.62 Request for vote-by-mail ballots.— 1562(1)(a) The supervisor shall accept a request for a vote-by1563mail ballot from an elector in person or in writing. One request1564shall be deemed sufficient to receive a vote-by-mail ballot for1565all elections through the end of the calendar year of the second1566ensuing regularly scheduled general election, unless the elector1567or the elector’s designee indicates at the time the request is1568made the elections for which the elector desires to receive a1569vote-by-mail ballot. Such request may be considered canceled1570when any first-class mail sent by the supervisor to the elector1571is returned as undeliverable.1572(b) The supervisor may accept a written or telephonic1573request for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to an elector’s1574address on file in the Florida Voter Registration System from1575the elector, or, if directly instructed by the elector, a member1576of the elector’s immediate family, or the elector’s legal1577guardian; if the ballot is requested to be mailed to an address1578other than the elector’s address on file in the Florida Voter1579Registration System, the request must be made in writing and1580signed by the elector. However, an absent uniformed service1581voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot is not1582required to submit a signed, written request for a vote-by-mail1583ballot that is being mailed to an address other than the1584elector’s address on file in the Florida Voter Registration1585System. For purposes of this section, the term “immediate1586family” has the same meaning as specified in paragraph (4)(c).1587The person making the request must disclose:15881. The name of the elector for whom the ballot is1589requested.15902. The elector’s address.15913. The elector’s date of birth.15924. The requester’s name.15935. The requester’s address.15946. The requester’s driver license number, if available.15957. The requester’s relationship to the elector.15968. The requester’s signature (written requests only).1597(c) Upon receiving a request for a vote-by-mail ballot from1598an absent voter, the supervisor of elections shall notify the1599voter of the free access system that has been designated by the1600department for determining the status of his or her vote-by-mail1601ballot.1602(2) A request for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to a1603voter must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day1604before the election by the supervisor. The supervisor shall mail1605vote-by-mail ballots to voters requesting ballots by such1606deadline no later than 8 days before the election.1607(3)For each mailrequest for a vote-by-mailballot 1608received, the supervisor shall record the date the ballot was 1609 mailedrequest was made, the date thevote-by-mailballot was 1610 delivered to the voter or the voter’s designee or the date the 1611vote-by-mailballot was delivered to the post office or other 1612 carrier, the date the ballot was received by the supervisor, the 1613 absence of the voter’s signature on the voter’s certificate, if 1614 applicable, and such other information he or she may deem 1615 necessary. This information shall be provided in electronic 1616 format as provided by rule adopted by the division. The 1617 information shall be updated and made available no later than 8 1618 a.m. of each day, including weekends, beginning 60 days before 1619 the primary until 15 days after the general election and shall 1620 be contemporaneously provided to the division. This information 1621 shall be confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and shall be 1622 made available to or reproduced only for the voter requesting 1623 the ballot, a canvassing board, an election official, a 1624 political party or official thereof, a candidate who has filed 1625 qualification papers and is opposed in an upcoming election, and 1626 registered political committees for political purposes only. 1627(4)(a) No later than 45 days before each presidential1628preference primary election, primary election, and general1629election, the supervisor of elections shall send a vote-by-mail1630ballot as provided in subparagraph (c)2. to each absent1631uniformed services voter and to each overseas voter who has1632requested a vote-by-mail ballot.1633(b) The supervisor shall mail a vote-by-mail ballot to each1634absent qualified voter, other than those listed in paragraph1635(a), who has requested such a ballot, between the 40th and 33rd1636days before the presidential preference primary election,1637primary election, and general election. Except as otherwise1638provided in subsection (2) and after the period described in1639this paragraph, the supervisor shall mail vote-by-mail ballots1640within 2 business days after receiving a request for such a1641ballot.1642(c) The supervisor shall provide a vote-by-mail ballot to1643each elector by whom a request for that ballot has been made by1644one of the following means:16451. By nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to the1646elector’s current mailing address on file with the supervisor or1647any other address the elector specifies in the request.16482. By forwardable mail, e-mail, or facsimile machine1649transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas1650voters. The absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter1651may designate in the vote-by-mail ballot request the preferred1652method of transmission. If the voter does not designate the1653method of transmission, the vote-by-mail ballot shall be mailed.16543. By personal delivery before 7 p.m. on election day to1655the elector, upon presentation of the identification required in1656s. 101.043.16574. By delivery to a designee on election day or up to 91658days prior to the day of an election. Any elector may designate1659in writing a person to pick up the ballot for the elector;1660however, the person designated may not pick up more than two1661vote-by-mail ballots per election, other than the designee’s own1662ballot, except that additional ballots may be picked up for1663members of the designee’s immediate family. For purposes of this1664section, “immediate family” means the designee’s spouse or the1665parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the designee or of the1666designee’s spouse. The designee shall provide to the supervisor1667the written authorization by the elector and a picture1668identification of the designee and must complete an affidavit.1669The designee shall state in the affidavit that the designee is1670authorized by the elector to pick up that ballot and shall1671indicate if the elector is a member of the designee’s immediate1672family and, if so, the relationship. The department shall1673prescribe the form of the affidavit. If the supervisor is1674satisfied that the designee is authorized to pick up the ballot1675and that the signature of the elector on the written1676authorization matches the signature of the elector on file, the1677supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee for delivery1678to the elector.16795. Except as provided in s. 101.655, the supervisor may not1680deliver a vote-by-mail ballot to an elector or an elector’s1681immediate family member on the day of the election unless there1682is an emergency, to the extent that the elector will be unable1683to go to his or her assigned polling place. If a vote-by-mail1684ballot is delivered, the elector or his or her designee shall1685execute an affidavit affirming to the facts which allow for1686delivery of the vote-by-mail ballot. The department shall adopt1687a rule providing for the form of the affidavit.1688(5) If the department is unable to certify candidates for1689an election in time to comply with paragraph (4)(a), the1690Department of State is authorized to prescribe rules for a1691ballot to be sent to absent uniformed services voters and1692overseas voters.1693(6) Only the materials necessary to vote by mail may be1694mailed or delivered with any vote-by-mail ballot.1695 Section 48. Section 101.64, Florida Statutes, is 1696 transferred, renumbered as section 101.003, Florida Statutes, 1697 and amended to read: 1698 101.003101.64Delivery ofvote-by-mailballots; envelopes; 1699 form.— 1700 (1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and 1701 (c), the supervisor of elections shall mail, by nonforwardable, 1702 return-if-undeliverable mail, a ballot to each active voter to 1703 the voter’s address on file in the Florida Voter Registration 1704 System between the 40th and 33rd days before the date of an 1705 election. 1706 (b) No later than 45 days before the date of an election, 1707 the supervisor shall send a ballot by forwardable mail, e-mail, 1708 or facsimile machine transmission to absent uniformed services 1709 voters and overseas voters. The absent uniformed services voter 1710 or overseas voter may inform the supervisor of the voter’s 1711 preferred method of transmission. If the voter does not 1712 designate a method of transmission, the ballot shall be mailed. 1713 If the department is unable to certify candidates for an 1714 election in time to comply with this paragraph, the department 1715 may prescribe rules for a ballot to be sent to absent uniformed 1716 services voters and overseas voters. 1717 (c) For any electors who register to vote after the 1718 supervisor of elections has mailed ballots pursuant to paragraph 1719 (a) but before the book-closing deadline, the supervisor shall 1720 mail ballots to such electors within 2 business days after 1721 determining that the electors’ voter registration applications 1722 are complete and valid pursuant to s. 97.053. For any election 1723 held for the purpose of nominating a political party nominee, if 1724 an elector updates his or her party affiliation after the 1725 supervisor of elections has mailed ballots pursuant to paragraph 1726 (a) but before the book-closing deadline, he or she may request 1727 a replacement ballot issued according to his or her newly 1728 designated party affiliation. 1729 (2)(a) The supervisor may accept a written request that is 1730 signed by the elector if a ballot is requested to be mailed to 1731 an address other than the elector’s address on file in the 1732 Florida Voter Registration System. 1733 (b) An absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter is 1734 not required to submit a signed and written request for a ballot 1735 to be mailed to an address other than the elector’s address on 1736 file in the Florida Voter Registration System. 1737 (3) The supervisor shall enclose with eachvote-by-mail1738 ballot two envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which theabsent1739 elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a mailing 1740 envelope, into which theabsentelector shall then place the 1741 secrecy envelope, which shall be addressed to the supervisor and 1742 also bear on the back side a certificate in substantially the 1743 following form: 1744 1745 Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before 1746 Marking Ballot and Completing Voter’s Certificate. 1747 1748 VOTER’S CERTIFICATE 1749 I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a qualified 1750 and registered voter of .... County, Florida, and that I have 1751 not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I 1752 understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in 1753 connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 1754 than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the 1755 third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 1756 5 years. I also understand that failure to sign this certificate 1757 will invalidate my ballot. 1758 ...(Date)... ...(Voter’s Signature)... 1759 ...(E-Mail Address)... ...(Home Telephone Number)... 1760 ...(Mobile Telephone Number)... 1761 1762 (4)(2)The certificate shall be arranged on the back of the 1763 mailing envelope so that the line for the signature of the 1764absentelector is across the seal of the envelope; however, no 1765 statement shall appear on the envelope which indicates that a 1766 signature of the voter must cross the seal of the envelope. The 1767absentelector shall execute the certificate on the envelope. 1768 (5)(3)In lieu of the voter’s certificate provided in this 1769 section, the supervisor of elections shall provide each person 1770 voting in accordance withabsentee underthe Uniformed and 1771 Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act with the standard oath 1772 prescribed by the presidential designee. 1773 (6)(4)The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or 1774 otherwise track the precinct of theabsentelector for each 1775vote-by-mailballot. 1776 (7)(5)The secrecy envelope must include, in bold font, 1777 substantially the following message: 1778 1779 IN ORDER FOR YOURVOTE-BY-MAILBALLOT TO COUNT, YOUR SUPERVISOR 1780 OF ELECTIONS MUST RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT BY 7 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. 1781 IF YOU WAIT TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT, YOUR VOTE MIGHT NOT COUNT. TO 1782 PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING, PLEASE MAIL OR TURN IN YOUR BALLOT 1783 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 1784 (8) Only the materials necessary to vote by mail may be 1785 mailed or delivered with any ballot. 1786 Section 49. Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is 1787 transferred, renumbered as section 101.005, Florida Statutes, 1788 and amended to read: 1789 101.005101.65Instructions toabsentelectors.—The 1790 supervisor shall enclose with eachvote-by-mailballot separate 1791 printed instructions in substantially the following form; 1792 however, where the instructions appear in capitalized text, the 1793 text of the printed instructions must be in bold font: 1794 1795 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY 1796 BEFORE MARKING BALLOT. 1797 1798 1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that yourvote-by1799vote-by-mailballot 1805 must be postmarked or dated no later than the date of the 1806 election and received by the supervisor of elections of the 1807 county in which you are registered to vote no later than 10 days 1808 after the date of the election. Note that the later you return 1809 your ballot, the less time you will have to cure any signature 1810 deficiencies, which is authorized until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day 1811 after the election. 1812 2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot. 1813 You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so 1814 because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. 1815 3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for 1816 a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote 1817 for One” candidate and you vote for more than one candidate, 1818 your vote in that race will not be counted. 1819 4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy 1820 envelope. 1821 5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed mailing 1822 envelope which is addressed to the supervisor. 1823 6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out the 1824 Voter’s Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope. 1825 7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for yourvote-by-mailballot to 1826 be counted, you must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s 1827 Signature). Avote-by-mailballot will be considered illegal and 1828 not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does 1829 not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the 1830 time the supervisor of elections in the county in which your 1831 precinct is located receives yourvote-by-mailballot is the 1832 signature that will be used to verify your signature on the 1833 voter’s certificate. If you need to update your signature for 1834 this election, send your signature update on a voter 1835 registration application to your supervisor of elections so that 1836 it is received before yourvote-by-mailballot is received. 1837 8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas voter, you must 1838 include the date you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line 1839 above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted. 1840 9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing 1841 envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed. THE 1842 COMPLETED MAILING ENVELOPE CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE OFFICE OF THE 1843 SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOUR PRECINCT IS 1844 LOCATED OR DROPPED OFF AT AN AUTHORIZED SECURE DROP BOX OR A 1845 VOTER SERVICES CENTER,AVAILABLE AT EACH EARLY VOTING LOCATION. 1846 10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to 1847 accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote 1848 for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote 1849 in an election using a false identity or false address, or under 1850 any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent. 1851 Section 50. Section 101.655, Florida Statutes, is amended 1852 to read: 1853 101.655 Supervised voting byabsentelectors in certain 1854 facilities.— 1855 (1) The supervisor of elections of a county shall provide 1856 supervised voting forabsentelectors residing in any assisted 1857 living facility, as defined in s. 429.02, or nursing home 1858 facility, as defined in s. 400.021, within that county at the 1859 request of any administrator of such a facility. Such request 1860 for supervised voting in the facility shall be made by 1861 submitting a written request to the supervisor of elections no 1862 later than 21 days prior to the election for which that request 1863 is submitted. The request shall specify the name and address of 1864 the facility and the name of the electors who wish to vote by 1865 supervised votingmail in that election. If the request contains 1866 the names of fewer than five voters, the supervisor of elections 1867 is not required to provide supervised voting. 1868 (2) The supervisor of elections may, in the absence of a 1869 request from the administrator of a facility, provide for 1870 supervised voting in the facilityfor those persons who have1871requested vote-by-mail ballots. The supervisor of elections 1872 shall notify the administrator of the facility that supervised 1873 voting will occur. 1874 (3) The supervisor of elections shall, in cooperation with 1875 the administrator of the facility, select a date and time when 1876 the supervised voting will occur. 1877 (4) The supervisor of elections shall designate supervised 1878 voting teams to provide the services prescribed by this section. 1879 Each supervised voting team shall include at least two persons. 1880 Each supervised voting team must include representatives of more 1881 than one political party; however, in any primary election to 1882 nominate party nominees in which only one party has candidates 1883 appearing on the ballot, all supervised voting team members may 1884 be of that party. No candidate may provide supervised voting 1885 services. 1886 (5) The supervised voting team shall deliver the ballots to 1887 the respectiveabsentelectors, and each member of the team 1888 shall jointly supervise the voting of the ballots. If any 1889 elector requests assistance in voting, the oath prescribed in s. 1890 101.051 shall be completed and the elector may receive the 1891 assistance of two members of the supervised voting team or some 1892 other person of the elector’s choice to assist the elector in 1893 casting the elector’s ballot. 1894 (6) Before providing assistance, the supervised voting team 1895 shall disclose to the elector that the ballot may be retained to 1896 vote at a later time and that the elector has the right to seek 1897 assistance in voting from some other person of the elector’s 1898 choice without the presence of the supervised voting team. 1899 (7) If any elector declines to vote a ballot or is unable 1900 to vote a ballot, the supervised voting team shall mark the 1901 ballot “refused to vote” or “unable to vote.” 1902 (8) After the ballots have been voted or marked in 1903 accordance with the provisions of this section, the supervised 1904 voting team shall deliver the ballots to the supervisor of 1905 elections, who shall retain them pursuant to s. 101.009s.1906101.67. 1907 Section 51. Section 101.657, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 1908 Section 52. Section 101.661, Florida Statutes, is 1909 transferred, renumbered as section 101.006, Florida Statutes, 1910 and amended to read: 1911 101.006101.661Votingvote-by-mailballots.—All electors 1912 must personally mark or designate their choices on athe vote1913by-mailballot, except: 1914 (1) Electors who require assistance to vote because of 1915 blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, who may 1916 have some person of the elector’s choice, other than the 1917 elector’s employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or 1918 agent of the elector’s union, mark the elector’s choices or 1919 assist the elector in marking his or her choices on the ballot. 1920 (2) As otherwise provided in s. 101.051 or s. 101.655. 1921 Section 53. Section 101.662, Florida Statutes, is 1922 transferred, renumbered as section 101.007, Florida Statutes, 1923 and amended to read: 1924 101.007101.662Accessibility ofvote-by-mailballots.—It 1925 is the intent of the Legislature that voting by mailvote-by1926mail ballotbe by methods that are fully accessible to all 1927 voters, including voters having a disability. The departmentof1928Stateshall work with the supervisors of elections and the 1929 disability community to develop and implement procedures and 1930 technologies, as possible, which will include procedures for 1931 providingvote-by-mailballots, upon request, in alternative 1932 formats that will allow all voters to cast a secret, 1933 independent, and verifiablevote-by-mailballot without the 1934 assistance of another person. 1935 Section 54. Section 101.663, Florida Statutes, is 1936 transferred and renumbered as section 101.008, Florida Statutes. 1937 Section 55. Section 101.67, Florida Statutes, is 1938 transferred, renumbered as section 101.009, Florida Statutes, 1939 and amended to read: 1940 101.009101.67Safekeeping of mailed ballots; deadline for 1941 receivingvote-by-mailballots.— 1942 (1) The supervisor of elections shall safely keep in his or 1943 her office any envelopes received containing marked ballotsof1944absent electors, and he or she shall, before the canvassing of 1945 the election returns, deliver the envelopes to the county 1946 canvassing board along with his or her file or list kept 1947 regarding said ballots. 1948 (2) Except as provided in s. 101.6952(5), all markedabsent1949electors’ballots to be counted must be received by the 1950 supervisor by 7 p.m. the day of the election. All ballots 1951 received thereafter shall be marked with the time and date of 1952 receipt and filed in the supervisor’s office. 1953 Section 56. Section 101.68, Florida Statutes, is 1954 transferred, renumbered as section 101.0091, Florida Statutes, 1955 and amended to read: 1956 101.0091101.68Canvassing of ballotsvote-by-mail ballot.— 1957 (1) The supervisor of the county where theabsentelector 1958 resides shall receive the voted ballot, at which time the 1959 supervisor shall compare the signature of the elector on the 1960 voter’s certificate with the signature of the elector in the 1961 registration booksor the precinct registerto determine whether 1962 the elector is duly registered in the county and may record on 1963 the elector’s registration certificate that the elector has 1964 voted. An elector who dies after casting avote-by-mailballot 1965 but on or before election day shall remain listed in the 1966 registration books until the results have been certified for the 1967 election in which the ballot was cast. The supervisor shall 1968 safely keep the ballot unopened in his or her office until the 1969 county canvassing board canvasses the vote. Except as provided 1970 in subsection (4), after avote-by-mailballot is received by 1971 the supervisor, the ballot is deemed to have been cast, and 1972 changes or additions may not be made to the voter’s certificate. 1973 (2)(a) The county canvassing board may begin the canvassing 1974 ofvote-by-mailballots at 7 a.m. on the 22nd day before the 1975 election, but not later than noon on the day following the 1976 election. In addition, for any county using electronic 1977 tabulating equipment, the processing ofvote-by-mailballots 1978 through such tabulating equipment may begin at 7 a.m. on the 1979 22nd day before the election. However, notwithstanding any such 1980 authorization to begin canvassing or otherwise processingvote1981by-mailballots early, no result shall be released until after 1982 the deadline for receiving ballots has passedclosing of the1983polls in that county on election day. Any supervisor, deputy 1984 supervisor, canvassing board member, election board member, or 1985 election employee who releases the results of a canvassing or 1986 processing ofvote-by-mailballots before the deadline for 1987 receiving ballotsprior to the closing of the pollsin that 1988 county has passedon election daycommits a felony of the third 1989 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 1990 775.084. 1991 (b) To ensure that allvote-by-mailballots to be counted 1992 by the canvassing board are accounted for, the canvassing board 1993 shall compare the number of ballots in its possession with the 1994 total number ofrequests forballots received to be counted 1995 according to the supervisor’s file or list. 1996 (c)1. The canvassing board must, if the supervisor has not 1997 already done so, compare the signature of the elector on the 1998 voter’s certificate or on thevote-by-mailballot cure affidavit 1999 as provided in subsection (4) with the signature of the elector 2000 in the registration booksor the precinct registerto see that 2001 the elector is duly registered in the county and to determine 2002 the legality of thatvote-by-mailballot. Avote-by-mailballot 2003 may only be counted if: 2004 a. The signature on the voter’s certificate or the cure 2005 affidavit matches the elector’s signature in the registration 2006 booksor precinct register; however, in the case of a cure 2007 affidavit, the supporting identification listed in subsection 2008 (4) must also confirm the identity of the elector; or 2009 b. The cure affidavit contains a signature that does not 2010 match the elector’s signature in the registration booksor2011precinct register, but the elector has submitted a current and 2012 valid Tier 1 identification pursuant to subsection (4) which 2013 confirms the identity of the elector. 2014 2015 For purposes of this subparagraph, any canvassing board finding 2016 that an elector’s signatures do not match must be by majority 2017 vote and beyond a reasonable doubt. 2018 2. The ballot of an elector who casts avote-by-mailballot 2019 shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before election 2020 day, as long as, before the death of the voter, the ballot was 2021 postmarked by the United States Postal Service, date-stamped 2022 with a verifiable tracking number by a common carrier, or 2023 already in the possession of the supervisor. 2024 3. Avote-by-mailballot is not considered illegal if the 2025 signature of the elector does not cross the seal of the mailing 2026 envelope. 2027 4. If any elector or candidate present believes that a 2028vote-by-mailballot is illegal due to a defect apparent on the 2029 voter’s certificate or the cure affidavit, he or she may, at any 2030 time before the ballot is removed from the envelope, file with 2031 the canvassing board a protest against the canvass of that 2032 ballot, specifying the precinct, the ballot, and the reason he 2033 or she believes the ballot to be illegal. A challenge based upon 2034 a defect in the voter’s certificate or cure affidavit may not be 2035 accepted after the ballot has been removed from the mailing 2036 envelope. 2037 5. If the canvassing board determines that a ballot is 2038 illegal, a member of the board must, without opening the 2039 envelope, mark across the face of the envelope: “rejected as 2040 illegal.” The cure affidavit, if applicable, the envelope, and 2041 the ballot therein shall be preserved in the manner that 2042 official ballots are preserved. 2043 (d) The canvassing board shall record the ballot upon the 2044 proper record, unless the ballot has been previously recorded by 2045 the supervisor. The mailing envelopes shall be opened and the 2046 secrecy envelopes shall be mixed so as to make it impossible to 2047 determine which secrecy envelope came out of which signed 2048 mailing envelope; however, in any county in which an electronic 2049 or electromechanical voting system is used, the ballots may be 2050 sorted by ballot styles and the mailing envelopes may be opened 2051 and the secrecy envelopes mixed separately for each ballot 2052 style. The votes onvote-by-mailballots shall be included in 2053 the total vote of the county. 2054 (3) The supervisor or the chair of the county canvassing 2055 board shall, after the board convenes, have custody of thevote2056by-mailballots until a final proclamation is made as to the 2057 total vote received by each candidate. 2058 (4)(a) As soon as practicable, the supervisor shall, on 2059 behalf of the county canvassing board, attempt to notify an 2060 elector who has returned avote-by-mailballot that does not 2061 include the elector’s signature or contains a signature that 2062 does not match the elector’s signature in the registration books 2063or precinct registerby: 2064 1. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by e 2065 mail and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and 2066 instructions on the supervisor’s website; 2067 2. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by 2068 text message and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and 2069 instructions on the supervisor’s website; or 2070 3. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by 2071 telephone and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and 2072 instructions on the supervisor’s website. 2073 2074 In addition to the notification required under subparagraph 1., 2075 subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3., the supervisor must notify 2076 the elector of the signature deficiency by first-class mail and 2077 direct the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the 2078 supervisor’s website. Beginning the day before the election, the 2079 supervisor is not required to provide notice of the signature 2080 deficiency by first-class mail, but shall continue to provide 2081 notice as required under subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or 2082 subparagraph 3. 2083 (b) The supervisor shall allow such an elector to complete 2084 and submit an affidavit in order to cure thevote-by-mailballot 2085 until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. 2086 (c) The elector must complete a cure affidavit in 2087 substantially the following form: 2088 2089VOTE-BY-MAILBALLOT CURE AFFIDAVIT 2090 2091 I, ...., am a qualified voter in this election and 2092 registered voter of .... County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or 2093 affirm that Irequested andreturned thevote-by-mailballot and 2094 that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this 2095 election. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in 2096 connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 2097 than once in an election, I may be convicted of a felony of the 2098 third degree and fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 2099 years. I understand that my failure to sign this affidavit means 2100 that myvote-by-mailballot will be invalidated. 2101 2102 ...(Voter’s Signature)... 2103 ...(Address)... 2104 2105 (d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in 2106 substantially the following form: 2107 2108 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE 2109 AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR 2110 BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. 2111 2112 1. In order to ensure that yourvote-by-mailballot will be 2113 counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon 2114 as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of 2115 the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5 2116 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. 2117 2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s 2118 Signature). 2119 3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of 2120 identification: 2121 a. Tier 1 identification.—Current and valid identification 2122 that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license; 2123 Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway 2124 Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or 2125 credit card; military identification; student identification; 2126 retirement center identification; neighborhood association 2127 identification; public assistance identification; veteran health 2128 identification card issued by the United States Department of 2129 Veterans Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon 2130 or firearm; or an employee identification card issued by any 2131 branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, 2132 the state, a county, or a municipality; or 2133 b. Tier 2 identification.—ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1 2134 FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and 2135 current residence address: current utility bill, bank statement, 2136 government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding 2137 voter information card). 2138 4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing 2139 envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your 2140 identification in the mailing envelope. Mail (if time permits), 2141 deliver, or have delivered the completed affidavit along with 2142 the copy of your identification to your county supervisor of 2143 elections. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and 2144 that the supervisor’s address is correct. Remember, your 2145 information MUST reach your county supervisor of elections no 2146 later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election, or your 2147 ballot will not count. 2148 5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed 2149 affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of 2150 elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as 2151 attachments. 2152 2153 (e) The department and each supervisor shall include the 2154 affidavit and instructions on their respective websites. The 2155 supervisor must include his or her office’s mailing address, e 2156 mail address, and fax number on the page containing the 2157 affidavit instructions, and the department’s instruction page 2158 must include the office mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, and 2159 fax numbers of all supervisors of elections or provide a 2160 conspicuous link to such addresses. 2161 (f) The supervisor shall attach each affidavit received to 2162 the appropriatevote-by-mailballot mailing envelope. 2163 (g) If avote-by-mailballot is validated following the 2164 submission of a cure affidavit, the supervisor shall make a copy 2165 of the affidavit, affix it to a voter registration application, 2166 and immediately process it as a valid request for a signature 2167 update pursuant to s. 98.077. 2168 (h) After all election results on the ballot have been 2169 certified, the supervisor shall, on behalf of the county 2170 canvassing board, notify each elector whose ballot has been 2171 rejected as illegal and provide the specific reason the ballot 2172 was rejected. In addition, unless processed as a signature 2173 update pursuant to paragraph (g), the supervisor shall mail a 2174 voter registration application to the elector to be completed 2175 indicating the elector’s current signature if the signature on 2176 the voter’s certificate or cure affidavit did not match the 2177 elector’s signature in the registration booksor precinct2178register. 2179 Section 57. Section 101.69, Florida Statutes, is 2180 transferred, renumbered as section 101.0092, Florida Statutes, 2181 and amended to read: 2182 101.0092101.69Voting in person; return ofvote-by-mail2183 ballot.— 2184(1) The provisions of this code shall not be construed to2185prohibit any elector from voting in person at the elector’s2186precinct on the day of an election or at an early voting site,2187notwithstanding that the elector has requested a vote-by-mail2188ballot for that election.An elector who has returned a mail 2189voted vote-by-mailballot to the supervisor, however,is deemed 2190 to have cast his or her ballot and is not entitled to vote 2191 another ballot or to have a provisional ballot counted by the 2192 county canvassing board. An elector who has received a mail 2193vote-by-mailballot and has not returned the voted ballot to the 2194 supervisor, but desires to vote in person, shall return the 2195 ballot, whether voted or not, to the office of the supervisor of 2196 elections or a voter services centerelection board in the2197elector’s precinct or to an early voting site. The returned 2198 ballot shall be marked “canceled” by the supervisor or election 2199 board and placed with other canceled ballots. However, if the 2200 elector does not return the ballot and the election official: 2201 (1)(a)Confirms that the supervisor has received the 2202 elector’svote-by-mailballot, the elector mayshallnot be 2203 allowed to vote in person. If the elector maintains that he or 2204 she has not returned thevote-by-mailballot or remains eligible 2205 to vote, the elector shall be provided a provisional ballot as 2206 provided in s. 101.048. 2207 (2)(b)Confirms that the supervisor has not received the 2208 elector’svote-by-mailballot, the elector shall be allowed to 2209 vote in person as provided in this code. The elector’svote-by2210(c)Cannot determine whether the supervisor has received 2214 the elector’svote-by-mailballot, the elector may vote a 2215 provisional ballot as provided in s. 101.048. 2216(2) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has received2217a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted vote-by-mail2218ballot to the supervisor by placing the envelope containing his2219or her marked ballot in a secure drop box. Secure drop boxes2220shall be placed at the main office of the supervisor, at each2221branch office of the supervisor, and at each early voting site.2222Secure drop boxes may also be placed at any other site that2223would otherwise qualify as an early voting site under s.2224101.657(1); provided, however, that any such site must be2225staffed during the county’s early voting hours of operation by2226an employee of the supervisor’s office or a sworn law2227enforcement officer.2228 Section 58. Section 101.6921, Florida Statutes, is amended 2229 to read: 2230 101.6921 Delivery of specialvote-by-mailballot to certain 2231 first-time voters.— 2232 (1) The provisions of this section apply to voters who are 2233 subject to the provisions of s. 97.0535 and who have not 2234 provided the identification or certification required by s. 2235 97.0535 by the time thevote-by-mailballot is mailed. 2236 (2) The supervisor shall enclose with eachvote-by-mail2237 ballot three envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the 2238absentelector will enclose his or her marked ballot; an 2239 envelope containing the Voter’s Certificate, into which the 2240absentelector shall place the secrecy envelope; and a mailing 2241 envelope, which shall be addressed to the supervisor and into 2242 which theabsentelector will place the envelope containing the 2243 Voter’s Certificate and a copy of the required identification. 2244 (3) The Voter’s Certificate shall be in substantially the 2245 following form: 2246 2247 Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before Marking Ballot 2248 and Completing Voter’s Certificate. 2249 2250 VOTER’S CERTIFICATE 2251 2252 I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a qualified 2253 and registered voter of .... County, Florida, and that I have 2254 not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I 2255 understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in 2256 connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 2257 than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the 2258 third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 2259 5 years. I also understand that failure to sign this certificate 2260 will invalidate my ballot. I understand that unless I meet one 2261 of the exemptions below, I must provide a copy of a current and 2262 valid identification as provided in the instruction sheet to the 2263 supervisor of elections in order for my ballot to count. 2264 I further certify that I am exempt from the requirements to 2265 furnish a copy of a current and valid identification with my 2266 ballot because of one or more of the following (check all that 2267 apply): 2268 ☐ I am 65 years of age or older. 2269 ☐ I have a permanent or temporary physical disability. 2270 ☐ I am a member of a uniformed service on active duty who, 2271 by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the county on 2272 election day. 2273 ☐ I am a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason of 2274 service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the county 2275 on election day. 2276 ☐ I am the spouse or dependent of a member of the uniformed 2277 service or Merchant Marine who, by reason of the active duty or 2278 service of the member, will be absent from the county on 2279 election day. 2280 ☐ I am currently residing outside the United States. 2281 2282 ...(Date)... ...Voter’s Signature... 2283 2284 (4) The certificate shall be arranged on the back of the 2285 envelope so that the line for the signature of theabsent2286 elector is across the seal of the envelope. 2287 Section 59. Section 101.6923, Florida Statutes, is amended 2288 to read: 2289 101.6923 Specialvote-by-mailballot instructions for 2290 certain first-time voters.— 2291 (1) The provisions of this section apply to voters who are 2292 subject to the provisions of s. 97.0535 and who have not 2293 provided the identification or information required by s. 2294 97.0535 by the time thevote-by-mailballot is mailed. 2295 (2) A voter covered by this section shall be provided with 2296 printed instructions with his or hervote-by-mailballot in 2297 substantially the following form: 2298 2299 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR 2300 BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE 2301 YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. 2302 2303 1. In order to ensure that yourvote-by-mailballot will be 2304 counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible 2305 so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county 2306 in which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the 2307 date of the election. However, if you are an overseas voter 2308 casting a ballot in a presidential preference primary or general 2309 election, yourvote-by-mailballot must be postmarked or dated 2310 no later than the date of the election and received by the 2311 supervisor of elections of the county in which you are 2312 registered to vote no later than 10 days after the date of the 2313 election. 2314 2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot. 2315 You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so 2316 because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. 2317 3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for 2318 a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote 2319 for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in 2320 that race will not be counted. 2321 4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy 2322 envelope and seal the envelope. 2323 5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope 2324 bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and 2325 completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the 2326 envelope. 2327 a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s 2328 Signature). 2329 b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date 2330 you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or 2331 your ballot may not be counted. 2332 c. Avote-by-mailballot will be considered illegal and 2333 will not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate 2334 does not match the signature on record. The signature on file at 2335 the start of the canvass of thevote-by-mailballots is the 2336 signature that will be used to verify your signature on the 2337 Voter’s Certificate. If you need to update your signature for 2338 this election, send your signature update on a voter 2339 registration application to your supervisor of elections so that 2340 it is received before yourvote-by-mailballot is received. 2341 6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you 2342 must make a copy of one of the following forms of 2343 identification: 2344 a. Identification which must include your name and 2345 photograph: United States passport; debit or credit card; 2346 military identification; student identification; retirement 2347 center identification; neighborhood association identification; 2348 public assistance identification; veteran health identification 2349 card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; 2350 a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or an 2351 employee identification card issued by any branch, department, 2352 agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a 2353 county, or a municipality; or 2354 b. Identification which shows your name and current 2355 residence address: current utility bill, bank statement, 2356 government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding 2357 voter information card). 2358 7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply 2359 if you meet one of the following requirements: 2360 a. You are 65 years of age or older. 2361 b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability. 2362 c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty 2363 who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the 2364 county on election day. 2365 d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason 2366 of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the 2367 county on election day. 2368 e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to 2369 in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active 2370 duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on 2371 election day. 2372 f. You are currently residing outside the United States. 2373 8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into 2374 the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy 2375 of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR 2376 IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR 2377 INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR 2378 BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT. 2379 9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing 2380 envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed. 2381 10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to 2382 accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote 2383 for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote 2384 in an election using a false identity or false address, or under 2385 any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent. 2386 Section 60. Section 101.6925, Florida Statutes, is amended 2387 to read: 2388 101.6925 Canvassing specialvote-by-mailballots.— 2389 (1) The supervisor of the county where theabsentelector 2390 resides shall receive the voted specialvote-by-mailballot, at 2391 which time the mailing envelope shall be opened to determine if 2392 the voter has enclosed the identification required or has 2393 indicated on the Voter’s Certificate that he or she is exempt 2394 from the identification requirements. 2395 (2) If the identification is enclosed or the voter has 2396 indicated that he or she is exempt from the identification 2397 requirements, the supervisor shall make the note on the 2398 registration records of the voter and proceed to canvass the 2399vote-by-mailballot as provided in s. 101.0091s. 101.68. 2400 (3) If the identification is not enclosed in the mailing 2401 envelope and the voter has not indicated that he or she is 2402 exempt from the identification requirements, the supervisor 2403 shall check the voter registration records to determine if the 2404 voter’s identification was previously received or the voter had 2405 previously notified the supervisor that he or she was exempt. 2406 The envelope with the Voter’s Certificate shall not be opened 2407 unless the identification has been received or the voter has 2408 indicated that he or she is exempt. The ballot shall be treated 2409 as a provisional ballot until 7 p.m. on election day and shall 2410 not be canvassed unless the supervisor has received the required 2411 identification or written indication of exemption by 7 p.m. on 2412 election day. 2413 Section 61. Section 101.694, Florida Statutes, is amended 2414 to read: 2415 101.694 Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal postcard 2416 application.— 2417 (1) Upon receipt of a federal postcard application for a 2418vote-by-mailballot executed by a person whose registration is 2419 in order or whose application is sufficient to register or 2420 update the registration of that person, the supervisor shall 2421 send the ballot in accordance with s. 101.003(1)(b)s.2422101.62(4). 2423 (2) Upon receipt of a federal postcard application for a 2424vote-by-mailballot executed by a person whose registration is 2425 not in order and whose application is insufficient to register 2426 or update the registration of that person, the supervisor shall 2427 follow the procedure set forth in s. 97.073. 2428 (3) BallotVote-by-mailenvelopes printed for voters 2429 entitled to vote by mail under the Uniformed and Overseas 2430 Citizens Absentee Voting Act shall meet the specifications as 2431 determined by the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the 2432 United States Department of Defense and the United States Postal 2433 Service. 2434 (4) Cognizance shall be taken of the fact thatvote-by-mail2435 ballots and other materials such as instructions and envelopes 2436 are to be carried via air mail, and, to the maximum extent 2437 possible, such ballots and materials shall be reduced in size 2438 and weight of paper. The same ballot shall be used, however, as 2439 is used by other mailvote-by-mailvoters. 2440 Section 62. Section 101.6951, Florida Statutes, is amended 2441 to read: 2442 101.6951 State write-invote-by-mailballot.— 2443 (1) An overseas voter may request, not earlier than 180 2444 days before a general election, a state write-invote-by-mail2445 ballot from the supervisor of elections in the county of 2446 registration. In order to receive a state write-in ballot, the 2447 voter shall state that due to military or other contingencies 2448 that preclude normal mail delivery, the voter cannot vote a 2449 regularvote-by-mailballot during the normalvote-by-mail2450 voting period. State write-invote-by-mailballots shall be made 2451 available to voters 90 to 180 days prior to a general election. 2452 The Department of State shall prescribe by rule the form of the 2453 state write-invote-by-mailballot. 2454 (2) In completing the ballot, the overseas voter may 2455 designate his or her choice by writing in the name of the 2456 candidate or by writing in the name of a political party, in 2457 which case the ballot must be counted for the candidate of that 2458 political party, if there is such a party candidate on the 2459 ballot. 2460 (3) Any abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation 2461 in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must 2462 be disregarded in determining the validity of the ballot if 2463 there is a clear indication on the ballot that the voter has 2464 made a definite choice. 2465 (4) The state write-invote-by-mailballot shall contain 2466 all offices, federal, state, and local, for which the voter 2467 would otherwise be entitled to vote. 2468 Section 63. Section 101.6952, Florida Statutes, is amended 2469 to read: 2470 101.6952Vote-by-mailBallots for absent uniformed services 2471 and overseas voters.— 2472 (1) If an absent uniformed services votervoter’sor an 2473 overseas voter providesvoter’s request for an official vote-by2474mail ballot pursuant to s. 101.62 includesan e-mail address to 2475 the supervisor of elections, the supervisorof electionsshall: 2476 (a) Record the voter’s e-mail address in thevote-by-mail2477 ballot record; 2478 (b) Confirm by e-mailthat the vote-by-mail ballot request2479was received and include in that e-mailthe estimated date the 2480vote-by-mailballot will be sent to the voter; and 2481 (c) Notify the voter by e-mail when the votedvote-by-mail2482 ballot is received by the supervisor of elections. 2483 (2)(a) An absent uniformed services voter or an overseas 2484 voter whomakes timely application for butdoes not receive an 2485 officialvote-by-mailballot may use the federal write-in 2486 absentee ballot to vote in any federal, state, or local 2487 election. 2488 (b)1. In an election for federal office, an elector may 2489 designate a candidate by writing the name of a candidate on the 2490 ballot. Except for a primary or special primary election, the 2491 elector may alternatively designate a candidate by writing the 2492 name of a political party on the ballot. A written designation 2493 of the political party shall be counted as a vote for the 2494 candidate of that party if there is such a party candidate in 2495 the race. 2496 2. In a state or local election, an elector may vote in the 2497 section of the federal write-in absentee ballot designated for 2498 nonfederal races by writing on the ballot the title of each 2499 office and by writing on the ballot the name of the candidate 2500 for whom the elector is voting. Except for a primary, special 2501 primary, or nonpartisan election, the elector may alternatively 2502 designate a candidate by writing the name of a political party 2503 on the ballot. A written designation of the political party 2504 shall be counted as a vote for the candidate of that party if 2505 there is such a party candidate in the race. In addition, the 2506 elector may vote on any ballot measure presented in such 2507 election by identifying the ballot measure on which he or she 2508 desires to vote and specifying his or her vote on the measure. 2509 For purposes of this section, a vote cast in a judicial merit 2510 retention election shall be treated in the same manner as a 2511 ballot measure in which the only allowable responses are “Yes” 2512 or “No.” 2513 (c) In the case of a joint candidacy, such as for the 2514 offices of President/Vice President or Governor/Lieutenant 2515 Governor, a valid vote for one or both qualified candidates on 2516 the same ticket shall constitute a vote for the joint candidacy. 2517 (d) For purposes of this subsection and except when the 2518 context clearly indicates otherwise, such as when a candidate in 2519 the election is affiliated with a political party whose name 2520 includes the word “Independent,” “Independence,” or a similar 2521 term, a voter designation of “No Party Affiliation” or 2522 “Independent,” or any minor variation, misspelling, or 2523 abbreviation thereof, shall be considered a designation for the 2524 candidate, other than a write-in candidate, who qualified to run 2525 in the race with no party affiliation. If more than one 2526 candidate qualifies to run as a candidate with no party 2527 affiliation, the designation may not count for any candidate 2528 unless there is a valid, additional designation of the 2529 candidate’s name. 2530 (e) Any abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation 2531 in the form of the name of an office, the name of a candidate, 2532 the ballot measure, or the name of a political party must be 2533 disregarded in determining the validity of the ballot. 2534 (3)(a) An absent uniformed services voter or an overseas 2535 voter who submits a federal write-in absentee ballot and later 2536 receives a regular mailan official vote-by-mailballot may 2537 submit the mailofficial vote-by-mailballot. An elector who 2538 submits a federal write-in absentee ballot and later receives 2539 and submits a regular mailan official vote-by-mailballot 2540 should make every reasonable effort to inform the appropriate 2541 supervisor of elections that the elector has submitted more than 2542 one ballot. 2543 (b) A federal write-in absentee ballot may not be canvassed 2544 until 7 p.m. on the day of the election. A federal write-in 2545 absentee ballot from an overseas voter in a presidential 2546 preference primary or general election may not be canvassed 2547 until the conclusion of the 10-day period specified in 2548 subsection (5). Each federal write-in absentee ballot received 2549 by 7 p.m. on the day of the election shall be canvassed pursuant 2550 to ss. 101.0091 and 101.5614(4)ss. 101.5614(4) and 101.68, 2551 unless the elector’s regular mailofficial vote-by-mailballot 2552 is received by 7 p.m. on election day. Each federal write-in 2553 absentee ballot from an overseas voter in a presidential 2554 preference primary or general election received by 10 days after 2555 the date of the election shall be canvassed pursuant to ss. 2556 101.0091 and 101.5614(4)ss. 101.5614(4) and 101.68, unless the 2557 overseas voter’s regular mailofficial vote-by-mailballot is 2558 received by 10 days after the date of the election. If the 2559 elector’s regular mailofficial vote-by-mailballot is received 2560 by 7 p.m. on election day, or, for an overseas voter in a 2561 presidential preference primary or general election, no later 2562 than 10 days after the date of the election, the federal write 2563 in absentee ballot is invalid and the regular mailofficial2564vote-by-mailballot shall be canvassed. The time shall be 2565 regulated by the customary time in standard use in the county 2566 seat of the locality. 2567 (4) Forvote-by-mailballots received from absent uniformed 2568 services voters or overseas voters, there is a presumption that 2569 the envelope was mailed on the date stated on the outside of the 2570 return envelope, regardless of the absence of a postmark on the 2571 mailed envelope or the existence of a postmark date that is 2572 later than the date of the election. 2573 (5) A regular mailvote-by-mailballot from an overseas 2574 voter in any presidential preference primary or general election 2575 which is postmarked or dated no later than the date of the 2576 election and is received by the supervisor of elections of the 2577 county in which the overseas voter is registered no later than 2578 10 days after the date of the election shall be counted as long 2579 as thevote-by-mailballot is otherwise proper. 2580 Section 64. Section 101.697, Florida Statutes, is amended 2581 to read: 2582 101.697 Electronic transmission of election materials.—The 2583 Department of State shall determine whether secure electronic 2584 means can be established for receiving ballots from overseas 2585 voters. If such security can be established, the department 2586 shall adopt rules to authorize a supervisor of elections to 2587 accept from an overseas voter a request for avote-by-mail2588 ballot or a votedvote-by-mailballot by secure facsimile 2589 machine transmission or other secure electronic means. The rules 2590 must provide that in order to accept a voted ballot, the 2591 verification of the voter must be established, the security of 2592 the transmission must be established, and each ballot received 2593 must be recorded. 2594 Section 65. Section 101.71, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 2595 Section 66. Section 101.715, Florida Statutes, is 2596 transferred, renumbered as section 101.0121, Florida Statutes, 2597 and amended to read: 2598 101.0121101.715Accessibility of voter services centers 2599polling placesfor people having a disability.— 2600 (1) All voter services centerspolling placesmust be 2601 accessible and usable by people with disabilities, as provided 2602 in this section. 2603 (2) Only those voter services centerspolling places2604 complying with the Florida Americans With Disabilities 2605 Accessibility Implementation Act, ss. 553.501-553.513, for all 2606 portions of the voter services centerpolling placeor the 2607 structure in which it is located that voters traverse going to 2608 and from the voter services centerpolling placeand during the 2609 voting process, regardless of the age or function of the 2610 building, shall be used for federal, state, and local elections. 2611 (3) The selection of a voter services centerpolling site2612 must ensure accessibility with respect to the following 2613 accessible elements, spaces, scope, and technical requirements: 2614 accessible route, space allowance and reach ranges, protruding 2615 objects, ground and floor surfaces, parking and passenger 2616 loading zones, curb ramps, ramps, stairs, elevators, platform 2617 lifts, doors, entrances, path of egress, controls and operating 2618 mechanisms, signage, and all other minimum requirements. 2619 (4) Standards required at each voter services center 2620polling place, regardless of the age of the building or function 2621 of the building, include: 2622 (a) For voter services centerspolling placesthat provide 2623 parking spaces for voters, one or more signed accessible parking 2624 spaces for disabled persons. 2625 (b) Signage identifying an accessible path of travel to the 2626 voter services centerpolling placeif it differs from the 2627 primary route or entrance. 2628 (c) An unobstructed path of travel to the voter services 2629 centerpolling place. 2630 (d) Level, firm, stable, and slip-resistant surfaces. 2631 (e) An unobstructed area for voting. 2632 (f) Sufficient lighting along the accessible path of travel 2633 and within the voter services centerpolling place. 2634 (5) The departmentof Statemay adopt any rulesin2635accordance with s. 120.54 which arenecessary to administer this 2636 section. 2637 Section 67. Subsection (3) of section 101.733, Florida 2638 Statutes, is amended to read: 2639 101.733 Election emergency; purpose; elections emergency 2640 contingency plan.—Because of the existing and continuing 2641 possibility of an emergency or common disaster occurring before 2642 or during a regularly scheduled or special election, and in 2643 order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral 2644 process and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons 2645 seeking to exercise their right to vote, generally to minimize 2646 to whatever degree possible a person’s exposure to danger during 2647 declared states of emergency, and to protect the integrity of 2648 the electoral process, it is hereby found and declared to be 2649 necessary to designate a procedure for the emergency suspension 2650 or delay and rescheduling of elections. 2651 (3) The divisionof Elections of the Department of State2652 shall adopt, by rule, an elections emergency contingency plan, 2653 which mustshallcontain goals and policies that give specific 2654 direction to state and local elections officials when an 2655 election has been suspended or delayed due to an emergency. The 2656 contingency plan mustshallbe statewide in scope and mustshall2657 address, but is notbelimited to, the following concerns: 2658 (a) Providing a procedure for state and local elections 2659 officials to follow when an election has been suspended or 2660 delayed to ensure notice of the suspension or delay to the 2661 proper authorities, the electorate, the communications media, 2662 electionpollworkers, and the custodians of voting locations 2663polling places. 2664 (b) Providing a procedure for the orderly conduct of a 2665 rescheduled election, whether municipal, county, district, or 2666 statewide in scope; coordinating those efforts with the 2667 appropriate elections official, and the members of the governing 2668 body holding such election, if appropriate; and working with the 2669 appropriate emergency management officials in determining the 2670 safety of existing voter services centers and drop box locations 2671polling placesor designating additional centers or locations 2672polling places. 2673 (c) Providing a procedure for the release and certification 2674 of election returns to the department for elections suspended or 2675 delayed and subsequently rescheduled under the provisions of ss. 2676 101.731-101.74. 2677 Section 68. Section 101.74, Florida Statutes, is amended to 2678 read: 2679 101.74 Temporary change of voter services center or drop 2680 box locationpolling placein case of emergency.—In case of an 2681 emergency existingin any precinctat the time of the holding of 2682 any election, the supervisor of elections may establish, at any 2683 safe and convenient pointoutside such precinct, an additional 2684 voter services center or drop box location to allow any 2685 affected, qualified elector to either vote or drop off a ballot 2686polling place for the electors of that precinct, in which place2687the qualified electors may vote.The registration books of the2688affected precinct shall be applicable to, and shall be used at,2689the polling place so established.2690 Section 69. Section 102.012, Florida Statutes, is amended 2691 to read: 2692 102.012 Inspectors and clerks to conduct elections.— 2693 (1)(a)The supervisor of elections of each county, at least 2694 20 days prior to the holding of any election, shall appoint an 2695 election board comprised of electionpollworkers who serve as 2696 clerks or inspectors for each voter services centerprecinctin 2697 the county. The clerk shall be in charge of, and responsible 2698 for, seeing that the election board carries out its duties and 2699 responsibilities. Each inspector and each clerk shall take and 2700 subscribe to an oath or affirmation, which shall be written or 2701 printed, to the effect that he or she will perform the duties of 2702 inspector or clerk of election, respectively, according to law 2703 and will endeavor to prevent all fraud, deceit, or abuse in 2704 conducting the election. The oath may be taken before an officer 2705 authorized to administer oaths or before any of the persons who 2706 are to act as inspectors, one of them to swear the others, and 2707 one of the others sworn thus, in turn, to administer the oath to 2708 the one who has not been sworn. The oaths shall be returned with 2709 the poll list and the returns of the election to the supervisor. 2710 In all questions that may arise before the members of an 2711 election board, the decision of a majority of them shall decide 2712 the question. The supervisor of elections of each county shall 2713 be responsible for the attendance and diligent performance of 2714 his or her duties by each clerk and inspector. 2715(b) If two or more precincts share the same building and2716voting place, the supervisor of elections may appoint one2717election board for the collocated precincts. The supervisor2718shall provide that a sufficient number of poll workers are2719appointed to adequately handle the processing of the voters in2720the collocated precincts.2721 (2) Each member of the election board shall be able to read 2722 and write the English language and shall be a registered 2723 qualified elector of the county in which the member is appointed 2724 or a person who has preregistered to vote, pursuant to s. 2725 97.041(1)(b), in the county in which the member is appointed. No 2726 election board shall be composed solely of members of one 2727 political party; however, in any primary in which only one party 2728 has candidates appearing on the ballot, all clerks and 2729 inspectors may be of that party. Any person whose name appears 2730 as an opposed candidate for any office isshallnotbeeligible 2731 to serve on an election board. 2732 (3) The supervisor shall furnish inspectors of election for 2733 each voter services centerprecinctwith the list of registered 2734 voters for that countyprecinct. The supervisor shall also 2735 furnish to the inspectors of electionat the polling place at2736each precinct in the supervisor’s countya sufficient number of 2737 forms and blanksfor use on election day. 2738(4) The election board of each precinct shall attend the2739polling place by 6 a.m. of the day of the election and shall2740arrange the furniture, stationery, and voting equipment. The2741election board shall conduct the voting, beginning and closing2742at the time set forth in s. 100.011.2743 Section 70. Section 102.014, Florida Statutes, is amended 2744 to read: 2745 102.014 ElectionPollworker recruitment and training.— 2746 (1) The supervisor of elections shall conduct training for 2747 inspectors, clerks, and deputy sheriffs prior to each primary, 2748 general, and special election for the purpose of instructing 2749 such persons in their duties and responsibilities as election 2750 officials. The divisionof Electionsshall develop a statewide 2751 uniform training curriculum for electionpollworkers, and each 2752 supervisor shall use such curriculum in training electionpoll2753 workers. A certificate may be issued by the supervisor of 2754 elections to each person completing such training. No person 2755 shall serve as an inspector, clerk, or deputy sheriff for an 2756 election unless such person has completed the training as 2757 required. A clerk may not work in an electionat the polls2758 unless he or she demonstrates a working knowledge of the laws 2759 and procedures relating to voter registration, voting system 2760 operation, balloting and voter services centerpolling place2761 procedures, and problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. 2762 (2) A person who has attended previous training conducted 2763 within 2 years before the election may be appointed by the 2764 supervisor to fill a vacancy on an election board. If no person 2765 with prior training is available to fill such vacancy, the 2766 supervisor of elections may fill such vacancy in accordance with 2767 the provisions of subsection (3) from among persons who have not 2768 received the training required by this section. 2769 (3) In the case of absence or refusal to act on the part of 2770 any inspector or clerk, the supervisor shall appoint a 2771 replacement who meets the qualifications prescribed in s. 2772 102.012(2). The inspector or clerk so appointed shall be a 2773 member of the same political party as the clerk or inspector 2774 whom he or she replaces. 2775 (4) Each supervisor of elections isshall beresponsible 2776 for training inspectors and clerks, subject to the following 2777 minimum requirements: 2778 (a) No clerk shall be entitled to work in an electionat2779the pollsunless he or she has had a minimum of 3 hours of 2780 training prior to each election. 2781 (b) No inspector shall work in an electionat the polls2782 unless he or she has had a minimum of 2 hours of training prior 2783 to each election. 2784 (5) The departmentof Stateshall create a uniform voter 2785 services centerpolling placeprocedures manual and adopt the 2786 manual by rule. Each supervisor of elections shall ensure that 2787 the manual is available in hard copy or electronic form in every 2788 voter services centerpolling place. The manual shall guide 2789 inspectors, clerks, and deputy sheriffs in the proper 2790 implementation of election procedures and laws. The manual shall 2791 be indexed by subject, and written in plain, clear, unambiguous 2792 language. The manual shall provide specific examples of common 2793 problems encountered at centersthe pollsand detail specific 2794 procedures for resolving those problems. The manual shall 2795 include, without limitation: 2796 (a) Regulations governing solicitation by individuals and 2797 groups at the voter services centerpolling place; 2798 (b) Procedures to be followed with respect to voters whose 2799 names are not in the registration bookson the precinct2800register; 2801 (c) Proper operation of the voting system; 2802 (d) Ballot handling procedures; 2803 (e) Procedures governing spoiled ballots; 2804 (f) Procedures to be followed after voting hours endthe2805polls close; 2806 (g) Rights of votersat the polls; 2807 (h) Procedures for handling emergency situations; 2808 (i) Procedures for dealing with irate voters; 2809 (j) The handling and processing of provisional ballots; and 2810 (k) Security procedures. 2811 2812 The departmentof Stateshall revise the manual as necessary to 2813 address new procedures in law or problems encountered by voters 2814 and electionpollworkersat the precincts. 2815 (6) Supervisors of elections shall work with the business 2816 and local community to develop public-private programs to ensure 2817 the recruitment of skilled inspectors and clerks. 2818 (7) The departmentof Stateshall develop a mandatory, 2819 statewide, and uniform program for training electionpoll2820 workers on issues of etiquette and sensitivity with respect to 2821 voters having a disability. The program must be conducted 2822 locally by each supervisor of elections, and each electionpoll2823 worker must complete the program before working during the 2824 current election cycle. The supervisor of elections shall 2825 contract with a recognized disability-related organization, such 2826 as a center for independent living, family network on 2827 disabilities, deaf service bureau, or other such organization, 2828 to develop and assist with training the trainers in the 2829 disability sensitivity programs. The program must include actual 2830 demonstrations of obstacles confronted by disabled persons 2831 during the voting process, including obtaining access to the 2832 voter services centerpolling place, traveling through the 2833 polling area, and using the voting system. 2834 Section 71. Subsection (2) of section 102.021, Florida 2835 Statutes, is amended to read: 2836 102.021 Compensation of inspectors, clerks, and deputy 2837 sheriffs.— 2838 (2) Inspectors and clerks of election and deputy sheriffs 2839 serving at voter services centers or secure drop box locations 2840the precinctsmay receive compensation and travel expenses, as 2841 provided in s. 112.061, for attending the electionpollworker 2842 training required by s. 102.014. 2843 Section 72. Section 102.031, Florida Statutes, is amended 2844 to read: 2845 102.031 Maintenance of good orderat polls; authorities; 2846 persons allowed inpolling rooms and earlyvoting areas; 2847 unlawful solicitation of voters.— 2848 (1) Each election board shall possess full authority to 2849 maintain orderat the pollsand enforce obedience to its lawful 2850 commands during an election and the canvass of the votes. 2851 (2) The sheriff shall deputize a deputy sheriff for each 2852 voter services centerpolling place and each early voting site2853 who shall be present during the time the centerpolls or early2854voting sitesare open and until the election is completed, who 2855 shall be subject to all lawful commands of the clerk or 2856 inspectors, and who shall maintain good order. The deputy may 2857 summon assistance from among bystanders to aid him or her when 2858 necessary to maintain peace and order at the centerpolls or2859early voting sites. 2860 (3)(a) No person may enter anypolling room or polling2861place where the polling place is also a polling room, orany2862earlyvoting area during voting hours except the following: 2863 1. Officialpollwatchers; 2864 2. Inspectors; 2865 3. Election clerks; 2866 4. The supervisor of elections or his or her deputy; 2867 5. Persons there to vote, persons in the care of a voter, 2868 or persons caring for such voter; 2869 6. Law enforcement officers or emergency service personnel 2870 there with permission of the clerk or a majority of the 2871 inspectors; or 2872 7. A person, whether or not a registered voter, who is 2873 assisting with or participating in a simulated election for 2874 minors, as approved by the supervisor of elections. 2875 (b) The restriction in this subsection does not apply where 2876 the voting areapolling roomis in an area commonly traversed by 2877 the public in order to gain access to businesses or homes or in 2878 an area traditionally utilized as a public area for discussion. 2879 (4)(a) No person, political committee, or other group or 2880 organization may solicit voters inside the voter services center 2881polling placeor within 150 feet of a secure drop box location 2882 or the entrance to any voter services centerpolling place, a2883polling room where the polling place is also a polling room, an2884early voting site,or an office of the supervisor wherevote-by2885the polling place or early voting site, the clerk or 2889 supervisor shall designate the no-solicitation zone and mark the 2890 boundaries. 2891 (b) For the purpose of this subsection, the terms “solicit” 2892 or “solicitation” shall include, but not be limited to, seeking 2893 or attempting to seek any vote, fact, opinion, or contribution; 2894 distributing or attempting to distribute any political or 2895 campaign material, leaflet, or handout; conducting a poll except 2896 as specified in this paragraph; seeking or attempting to seek a 2897 signature on any petition; and selling or attempting to sell any 2898 item. The terms “solicit” or “solicitation” may not be construed 2899 to prohibit exit polling. 2900 (c) Each supervisor of elections shall inform the clerk of 2901 the area within which soliciting is unlawful, based on the 2902 particular characteristics of that sitepolling place. The 2903 supervisor or the clerk may take any reasonable action necessary 2904 to ensure orderat the polling places, including, but not 2905 limited to, having disruptive and unruly persons removed by law 2906 enforcement officers from the voting areapolling room or place2907 or from the 150-foot no-solicitation zonesurrounding the2908polling place. 2909 (d) Except as provided in paragraph (a), the supervisor may 2910 not designate a no-solicitation zone or otherwise restrict 2911 access to any person, political committee, candidate, or other 2912 group or organization for the purposes of soliciting voters. 2913 This paragraph applies to any public or private property used as 2914 a voter services center or any other site used for conducting an 2915 electionpolling place or early voting site. 2916 (e) The owner, operator, or lessee of the property on which 2917 a voter services center or secure drop box locationpolling2918place or an early voting siteis located, or an agent or 2919 employee thereof, may not prohibit the solicitation of voters 2920 outside of the no-solicitation zone duringpollinghours of 2921 operation. 2922 (5) No photography is permitted in the voter services 2923 centerpolling room or early voting area, except an elector may 2924 photograph his or her own ballot. 2925 Section 73. Section 102.101, Florida Statutes, is amended 2926 to read: 2927 102.101 Sheriff and other officers not allowed in voter 2928 services centerpolling place.—No sheriff, deputy sheriff, 2929 police officer, or other officer of the law shall be allowed 2930 within the voter services centerpolling placewithout 2931 permission from the clerk or a majority of the inspectors, 2932 except to cast his or her ballot. Upon the failure of any of 2933 said officers to comply with this provision, the clerk or the 2934 inspectors or any one of them shall make an affidavit against 2935 such officer for his or her arrest. 2936 Section 74. Present subsections (5) through (11) of section 2937 102.141, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) 2938 through (10), respectively, and subsections (2), (3), and (4) 2939 and paragraph (a) of present subsection (10) of that section are 2940 amended, to read: 2941 102.141 County canvassing board; duties.— 2942 (2)(a) The county canvassing board shall meet in a building 2943 accessible to the public in the county where the election 2944 occurred at a time and place to be designated by the supervisor 2945 to publicly canvassthe absent electors’ballots as provided for 2946 in s. 101.0091s. 101.68and provisional ballots as provided by 2947 ss. 101.048, 101.049, and 101.6925. Provisional ballots cast 2948 pursuant to s. 101.049 shall be canvassed in a manner that votes 2949 for candidates and issues on those ballots can be segregated 2950 from other votes. As soon as mailthe absent electors’ballots 2951 and the provisional ballots are canvassed, the board shall 2952 proceed to publicly canvass the vote given each candidate, 2953 nominee, constitutional amendment, or other measure submitted to 2954 the electorate of the county, as shown by the returns then on 2955 file in the office of the supervisor. 2956 (b) Public notice of the time and place at which the county 2957 canvassing board shall meet to canvassthe absent electors’2958 ballots and provisional ballots must be given at least 48 hours 2959 prior thereto by publication on the supervisor’s website and 2960 published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in 2961 the county or, if there is no newspaper of general circulation 2962 in the county, by posting such notice in at least four 2963 conspicuous places in the county. The time given in the notice 2964 as to the convening of the meeting of the county canvassing 2965 board must be specific and may not be a time period during which 2966 the board may meet. 2967 (c) If the county canvassing board suspends or recesses a 2968 meeting publicly noticed pursuant to paragraph (b) for a period 2969 lasting more than 60 minutes, the board must post on the 2970 supervisor’s website the anticipated time at which the board 2971 expects to reconvene. If the county canvassing board does not 2972 reconvene at the specified time, the board must provide at least 2973 2 hours’ notice, which must be posted on the supervisor’s 2974 website, before reconvening. 2975 (d) During any meeting of the county canvassing board, a 2976 physical notice must be placed in a conspicuous area near the 2977 public entrance to the building in which the meeting is taking 2978 place. The physical notice must include the names of the 2979 individuals officially serving as the county canvassing board, 2980 the names of any alternate members, the time of the meeting, and 2981 a brief statement as to the anticipated activities of the county 2982 canvassing board. 2983(3) The canvass, except the canvass of absent electors’2984returns and the canvass of provisional ballots, shall be made2985from the returns and certificates of the inspectors as signed2986and filed by them with the supervisor, and the county canvassing2987board shall not change the number of votes cast for a candidate,2988nominee, constitutional amendment, or other measure submitted to2989the electorate of the county, respectively, in any polling2990place, as shown by the returns. All returns shall be made to the2991board on or before 2 a.m. of the day following any primary,2992general, or other election. If the returns from any precinct are2993missing, if there are any omissions on the returns from any2994precinct, or if there is an obvious error on any such returns,2995the canvassing board shall order a retabulation of the returns2996from such precinct. Before canvassing such returns, the2997canvassing board shall examine the tabulation of the ballots2998cast in such precinct and determine whether the returns2999correctly reflect the votes cast. If there is a discrepancy3000between the returns and the tabulation of the ballots cast, the3001tabulation of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and3002such votes shall be canvassed accordingly.3003 (3)(a)(4)(a)The supervisor of elections shall upload into 3004 the county’s election management system by 7 p.m. on the day 3005 before the election the results of allearly voting and vote-by3006by the end of the early voting3008period. Pursuant to ss. 101.0091(2) and 101.5614(8),101.657,3009and 101.68(2),the tabulation of votes cast or the results of 3010 such uploads may not be made public before 7 p.m.the close of3011the pollson election day. 3012 (b) The canvassing board shall report allearly voting and3013all tabulated vote-by-mailresults to the Department of State 3014 within 30 minutes after 7 p.m. on election daythe polls close. 3015 Thereafter, the canvassing board shall report, with the 3016 exception of provisional ballot results, updatedprecinct3017electionresults to the department at least every 45 minutes 3018 until all results are completely reported. The supervisor of 3019 elections shall notify the department immediately of any 3020 circumstances that do not permit periodic updates as required. 3021 Results shall be submitted in a format prescribed by the 3022 department. 3023 (9)(a)(10)(a)At the same time that the official results of 3024 an election are certified to the departmentof State, the county 3025 canvassing board shall file a report with the divisionof3026Electionson the conduct of the election. The report must 3027 describe: 3028 1. All equipment or software malfunctionsat the precinct3029level,at a counting location,or within computer and 3030 telecommunications networks supporting a county location, and 3031 the steps that were taken to address the malfunctions; 3032 2. All election definition errors that were discovered 3033 after the logic and accuracy test, and the steps that were taken 3034 to address the errors; 3035 3. All ballot printing errors or ballot supply problems, 3036 and the steps that were taken to address the errors or problems; 3037 4. All staffing shortages or procedural violations by 3038 employeesor precinct workerswhich were addressed by the 3039 supervisor of elections or the county canvassing board during 3040 the conduct of the election, and the steps that were taken to 3041 correct such issues; 3042 5. All instances where needs for staffing or equipment were 3043 insufficient to meet the needs of the voters; and 3044 6. Any additional information regarding material issues or 3045 problems associated with the conduct of the election. 3046 Section 75. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 3047 102.166, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3048 102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.— 3049 (5) Procedures for a manual recount are as follows: 3050 (b) Each duplicate ballot prepared pursuant to s. 3051 101.5614(4) or s. 102.141(6) musts. 102.141(7) shallbe 3052 compared with the original ballot to ensure the correctness of 3053 the duplicate. 3054 Section 76. Subsection (8) of section 102.168, Florida 3055 Statutes, is amended to read: 3056 102.168 Contest of election.— 3057 (8) In any contest that requires a review of the canvassing 3058 board’s decision on the legality of a mail or provisionalor3059vote-by-mailballot pursuant to s. 101.0091 or s. 101.048or s.3060101.68based upon a comparison of the signature of the elector 3061 in the registration records with the signature on the 3062provisional or vote-by-mailvoter’s certificate or the 3063provisional or vote-by-mailcure affidavit, the circuit court 3064 may not review or consider any evidence other than the signature 3065 of the elector in the registration records, the signature on the 3066 respective voter’s certificate or cure affidavit, and any 3067 supporting identification that the elector submitted with the 3068 cure affidavit. The court’s review of such issue shall be to 3069 determine only if the canvassing board abused its discretion in 3070 making its decision. 3071 Section 77. Section 104.047, Florida Statutes, is amended 3072 to read: 3073 104.047Vote-by-mailBallots and voting; violations.— 3074 (1) Except as provided in s. 101.014(3)s. 101.62or s. 3075 101.655, any person who requests avote-by-mailballot on behalf 3076 of an elector commitsis guilty ofa felony of the third degree, 3077 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 3078 (2) Any person who marks or designates a choice on the 3079 ballot of another person, except as provided in s. 101.006, s. 3080 101.051, or s. 101.655,or s. 101.661,commitsis guilty ofa 3081 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 3082 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 3083 Section 78. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 3084 104.0515, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3085 104.0515 Voting rights; deprivation of, or interference 3086 with, prohibited; penalty.— 3087 (2) No person acting under color of law shall: 3088 (a) In determining whether any individual is qualified 3089 under law to vote in any election, apply any standard, practice, 3090 or procedure different from the standards, practices, or 3091 procedures applied under law to other individuals within the 3092 same political subdivision who have been found to be qualified 3093 to vote; or 3094 (b) Deny the right of any individual to vote in any 3095 election because of an error or omission on any record or paper 3096 relating to any application, registration, or other act 3097 requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material 3098 in determining whether such individual is qualified under law to 3099 vote in such election.This paragraph shall apply to vote-by3100mail ballots only if there is a pattern or history of3101discrimination on the basis of race, color, or previous3102condition of servitude in regard to vote-by-mail ballots.3103 Section 79. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and paragraph 3104 (c) of subsection (3) of section 104.0615, Florida Statutes, are 3105 amended to read: 3106 104.0615 Voter intimidation or suppression prohibited; 3107 criminal penalties.— 3108 (2) A person may not directly or indirectly use or threaten 3109 to use force, violence, or intimidation or any tactic of 3110 coercion or intimidation to induce or compel an individual to: 3111 (d) Refrain from acting as a legally authorized election 3112 official orpollwatcher. 3113 (3) A person may not knowingly use false information to: 3114 (c) Induce or attempt to induce an individual to refrain 3115 from acting as a legally authorized election official orpoll3116 watcher. 3117 Section 80. Section 104.0616, Florida Statutes, is amended 3118 to read: 3119 104.0616Vote-by-mailBallots and voting; violations.— 3120 (1) For purposes of this section, the term “immediate 3121 family” means a person’s spouse or the parent, child, 3122 grandparent, or sibling of the person or the person’s spouse. 3123 (2) Any person who provides or offers to provide, and any 3124 person who accepts, a pecuniary or other benefit in exchange for 3125 distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, delivering, or 3126 otherwise physically possessing more than twovote-by-mail3127 ballots per election in addition to his or her own ballot or a 3128 ballot belonging to an immediate family member, except as 3129 provided in ss. 101.6105-101.694, commits a misdemeanor of the 3130 first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, 3131 or s. 775.084. 3132 Section 81. Section 104.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to 3133 read: 3134 104.17 Voting in person after casting mailvote-by-mail3135 ballot.—Any person who willfully votes or attempts to vote both 3136 in person and by mailvote-by-mailballot at any election 3137 commitsis guilty ofa felony of the third degree, punishable as 3138 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 3139 Section 82. Section 104.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to 3140 read: 3141 104.20 Ballot not to be seen, and other offenses.—Any 3142 elector who, except as provided by law, allows his or her ballot 3143 to be seen by any person; takes or removes, or attempts to take 3144 or remove, any ballot from the voter services centerpolling3145placebefore the close of the polls; places any mark on his or 3146 her ballot by which it may be identified; endeavors to induce 3147 any elector to show how he or she voted; aids or attempts to aid 3148 any elector unlawfully; or prints or procures to be printed, or 3149 has in his or her possession, any copies of any ballot prepared 3150 to be voted commitsis guilty ofa misdemeanor of the first 3151 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 3152 Section 83. Section 104.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to 3153 read: 3154 104.29 Inspectors refusing to allow watchers while ballots 3155 are counted.—The inspectors or other election officials at the 3156 voter services centerpolling placeshall, after the polls 3157 close, allow as many as three persons near to them to see 3158 whether the ballots are being reconciled correctly. Any official 3159 who denies this privilege or interferes therewith commits a 3160 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 3161 775.082 or s. 775.083. 3162 Section 84. Subsection (2) of section 117.05, Florida 3163 Statutes, is amended to read: 3164 117.05 Use of notary commission; unlawful use; notary fee; 3165 seal; duties; employer liability; name change; advertising; 3166 photocopies; penalties.— 3167 (2)(a)The fee of a notary public may not exceed $10 for 3168 any one notarial act, except as provided in s. 117.045 or s. 3169 117.275. 3170(b) A notary public may not charge a fee for witnessing a3171vote-by-mail ballot in an election, and must witness such a3172ballot upon the request of an elector, provided the notarial act3173is in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.3174 Section 85. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 3175 153.53, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3176 153.53 Establishment of districts in unincorporated areas.— 3177 (3) 3178 (c) The ballot to be used at said election shall be in 3179 substantially the following form: 3180 3181 OFFICIAL BALLOT 3182 3183 .... WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT 3184 .... COUNTY, FLORIDA 3185 3186 SPECIAL ELECTION ...(Insert date)... 3187 3188 1. Shall .... Water and Sewer District .... County, Florida, be 3189 created? 3190 .... Yes 3191 .... No 3192 2. Make a cross mark (x) before the names of the candidates of 3193 your choice. 3194 FOR COMMISSIONERS OF 3195 WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT 3196 VOTE FOR THREE WRITE-IN 3197 VOTES 3198 3199 ................................................................ 3200 3201 ................................................................ 3202 3203 ................................................................ 3204 3205 ................................................................ 3206 3207 Blank lines shall be placed on the ballot so that the name of 3208 any person who did not file a petition and who is otherwise 3209 qualified may be written in, in the form of an irregular or 3210 write-in vote. The inspectors and clerks for said election shall 3211 be appointed by the board of county commissioners. The ballots 3212 shall be furnished by the board of county commissioners. The 3213 board of county commissioners shall designate an appropriate 3214 voter services centerpolling placeor voter services centers to 3215 supplement mail ballotingpolling places where said election3216shall be held. The inspectors and clerks shall make returns to 3217 the board of county commissioners and said board of county 3218 commissioners shall canvass said election returns and declare 3219 the results thereof at a meeting to be held as soon as practical 3220 after said election. 3221 Section 86. Subsection (1) of section 155.04, Florida 3222 Statutes, is amended to read: 3223 155.04 County hospitals; petition; election; 3224 establishment.— 3225 (1) Whenever the board of county commissioners of any 3226 county in the state shall be presented with a petition signed by 3227 5 percent of the resident freeholders of such county, asking 3228 that an annual tax may be levied for the establishment and 3229 maintenance of a public hospital at a place in the county named 3230 therein, and shall specify in said petition the maximum amount 3231 of money proposed to be expended in purchasing or building said 3232 hospital, such board of county commissioners shall submit the 3233 question to the qualified electors of the county who are 3234 freeholders at the next general election to be held in the 3235 county, or at a special election called for that purpose, first 3236 giving 30 days’ notice thereof in one or more newspapers 3237 published in the county, if any be published therein, or posting 3238 written or printed notices at each voter services center ineach3239precinct ofthe county, which notice shall include the text of 3240 the petition and state the amount of the tax to be levied upon 3241 the assessed property of the said county which tax shall not 3242 exceed 5 mills on the dollar, and be for the issue of the county 3243 bonds, to provide funds for the purchase of the site, or sites, 3244 and the erection thereon of a public hospital and hospital 3245 buildings, and for the support of same, which bonds shall be 3246 payable within 30 years, which said election shall be held at 3247 the usual places in such county for voting upon county officers, 3248 and shall be canvassed in the same manner as the vote for the 3249 county officers is canvassed. The ballots to be used in any 3250 election at which such hospital question is submitted, shall be 3251 printed with a statement substantially as follows: 3252 3253 For a .... mill tax for a bond issue for a public hospital, 3254 and for maintenance of same: 3255 YES .... 3256 NO .... 3257 3258 Section 87. Paragraph (a) of subsection (16) of section 3259 163.514, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3260 163.514 Powers of neighborhood improvement districts. 3261 Unless prohibited by ordinance, the board of any district shall 3262 be empowered to: 3263 (16)(a) Subject to referendum approval, make and collect 3264 special assessments pursuant to ss. 197.3632 and 197.3635 to pay 3265 for improvements to the district and for reasonable expenses of 3266 operating the district, including the payment of expenses 3267 included in the district’s budget, subject to an affirmative 3268 vote by a majority of the registered voters residing in the 3269 district. Such assessments shall not exceed $500 for each 3270 individual parcel of land per year.Notwithstanding the3271provisions of s. 101.6102, the referendum to approve the special3272assessment shall be by mail ballot.3273 Section 88. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 3274 171.0413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3275 171.0413 Annexation procedures.—Any municipality may annex 3276 contiguous, compact, unincorporated territory in the following 3277 manner: 3278 (2) Following the final adoption of the ordinance of 3279 annexation by the governing body of the annexing municipality, 3280 the ordinance shall be submitted to a vote of the registered 3281 electors of the area proposed to be annexed. The governing body 3282 of the annexing municipality may also choose to submit the 3283 ordinance of annexation to a separate vote of the registered 3284 electors of the annexing municipality. The referendum on 3285 annexation shall be called and conducted and the expense thereof 3286 paid by the governing body of the annexing municipality. 3287 (c) On the day of the referendum on annexation, there shall 3288 be prominently displayed at each voter services centerpolling3289placea copy of the ordinance of annexation and a description of 3290 the property proposed to be annexed. The description shall be by 3291 metes and bounds and shall include a map clearly showing such 3292 area. 3293 Section 89. Section 256.011, Florida Statutes, is amended 3294 to read: 3295 256.011 Display of flag at voter services centeron3296election day.— 3297 (1) The supervisor of elections of each county in this 3298 state shall provide a flag of the United States for each voter 3299 services centerpolling placein the county. The flag shall be 3300 displayed properly and prominently at all designated voter 3301 services centerspolling placeson all days when an election is 3302 being held. 3303 (2) The supervisor of elections of each county in the state 3304 shall make the flags available to each municipality or 3305 governmental body holding an election within such county for 3306 each election held for any such municipality or governmental 3307 body within such county. The municipality or governmental body 3308 shall have the responsibility of properly and prominently 3309 displaying the flag at each such voter services centerpolling3310placeon all days when an election is being held and shall bear 3311 the expense of displaying the flag of the United States. 3312 (3) Each supervisor of elections is authorized to purchase 3313 a sufficient number of flags to carry out the purpose of this 3314 act out of the general revenue fund of each such county. 3315 (4) In lieu of a flag of the United States, a picture or 3316 representation of the flag may be displayed at the voter 3317 services centerpolling place, provided such picture or 3318 representation measures, at a minimum, 1 square foot in size. 3319 Section 90. Subsection (7) of section 394.459, Florida 3320 Statutes, is amended to read: 3321 394.459 Rights of patients.— 3322 (7) VOTING IN PUBLIC ELECTIONS.—A patient who is eligible 3323 to vote according to the laws of the state has the right to vote 3324 in the primary and general elections. The department shall 3325 establish rules to enable patients to obtain voter registration 3326 forms, applications for vote-by-mail ballots,andvote-by-mail3327 ballots. 3328 Section 91. Section 741.406, Florida Statutes, is amended 3329 to read: 3330 741.406 Voting by program participant; use of designated 3331 address by supervisor of elections.—A program participant who is3332otherwise qualified to vote may request a vote-by-mail ballot3333pursuant to s. 101.62. The program participant shall3334automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots for all elections in3335the jurisdictions in which that individual resides in the same3336manner as vote-by-mail voters.The supervisor of elections shall 3337 transmit athe vote-by-mailballot to the program participant at 3338 the address designated by the participant in his or her voter 3339 registration record in the same manner as other voters 3340application as a vote-by-mail voter. However, the name, address, 3341 and telephone number of a program participant may not be 3342 included in any list of registered voters available to the 3343 public. 3344 Section 92. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section 3345 790.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3346 790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.— 3347 (12)(a) A license issued under this section does not 3348 authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a 3349 concealed weapon or firearm into: 3350 1. Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05; 3351 2. Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; 3352 3. Any detention facility, prison, or jail; 3353 4. Any courthouse; 3354 5. Any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would 3355 preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining 3356 who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom; 3357 6. Any voter services centerpolling place; 3358 7. Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public 3359 school district, municipality, or special district; 3360 8. Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; 3361 9. Any school, college, or professional athletic event not 3362 related to firearms; 3363 10. Any elementary or secondary school facility or 3364 administration building; 3365 11. Any career center; 3366 12. Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense 3367 alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which 3368 portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such 3369 purpose; 3370 13. Any college or university facility unless the licensee 3371 is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such 3372 college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal 3373 electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes 3374 and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile; 3375 14. The inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area 3376 of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from 3377 carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is 3378 encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as 3379 baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or 3380 15. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited 3381 by federal law. 3382 Section 93. Subsection (7) of section 916.107, Florida 3383 Statutes, is amended to read: 3384 916.107 Rights of forensic clients.— 3385 (7) VOTING IN PUBLIC ELECTIONS.—A forensic client who is 3386 eligible to vote according to the laws of the state has the 3387 right to vote in the primary and general elections. The 3388 department and agency shall establish rules to enable clients to 3389 obtain voter registration forms, applications for vote-by-mail3390ballots,andvote-by-mailballots. 3391 Section 94. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.