SESSION WATCH
THE BILL ITSELF

CS/CS/SB 1334

Elections

VERSION S 1334 c2 · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 1334 By the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senator Grall 606-03019-26 20261334c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.021,
3 F.S.; revising definitions; defining the term
4 “document acceptable as evidence of United States
5 citizenship”; amending s. 97.052, F.S.; revising the
6 information the uniform statewide voter registration
7 application is designed to elicit from an applicant to
8 include a certain acknowledgment; amending s. 97.0525,
9 F.S.; requiring that the online voter registration
10 system transmit specified information to the
11 supervisor of elections under specified circumstances;
12 requiring that the applicant’s legal status as a
13 United States citizen be recorded in the statewide
14 voter registration system; requiring that if the
15 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
16 Vehicles indicate that an applicant is not a United
17 States citizen or has not provided acceptable evidence
18 of citizenship, the online voter registration system
19 must notify the supervisor of the applicant’s legal
20 status and transmit the application to the supervisor;
21 providing that an applicant’s digital signature
22 satisfies a certain requirement; providing that if an
23 applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be verified,
24 the system must populate certain information into a
25 printable version of the registration application;
26 requiring the applicant to print, complete, sign,
27 date, and deliver such application to the supervisor;
28 requiring that the online voter registration system
29 populate an applicant’s information and direct the
30 applicant to perform specified actions under specified
31 conditions; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
32 97.053, F.S.; providing that applications to update a
33 voter’s record are retroactive under a specified
34 condition; requiring supervisors to verify a voter’s
35 legal status as a United States citizen using
36 specified sources and initiate a certain notice if
37 applicable; amending s. 97.057, F.S.; requiring that
38 an agreement between the Department of Highway Safety
39 and Motor Vehicles and the Department of State match
40 information regarding the legal status as a United
41 States citizen of applicants applying to vote;
42 requiring the Department of State to include specified
43 information in the statewide voter registration
44 system; requiring the Department of Highway Safety and
45 Motor Vehicles to assist the Department of State in
46 identifying certain changes in information for persons
47 who may be voters; deleting a provision requiring the
48 Department of State to report certain changes to
49 supervisors; amending s. 98.015, F.S.; authorizing the
50 office of the supervisor of elections to close to
51 observe certain holidays under a specified condition;
52 amending s. 98.045, F.S.; requiring supervisors to
53 verify the current eligibility of certain applicants
54 within a specified timeframe by reviewing specified
55 information provided by governmental entities to make
56 a determination under specified conditions; requiring
57 the supervisor to deny the application and notify the
58 applicant if a certain determination is made; amending
59 s. 98.075, F.S.; requiring the Department of State to
60 identify certain voters by comparing or receiving
61 information from specified sources; requiring the
62 Department of State to review such information and
63 make an initial determination; requiring the
64 department to notify the supervisor if certain
65 information is credible and reliable and provide a
66 copy of specified documentation to the supervisor;
67 requiring the supervisor to adhere to specified
68 procedures to remove the voter’s name from the
69 statewide voter registration system; requiring the
70 supervisor to record in the statewide voter
71 registration system the type of document provided as
72 evidence of United States citizenship; amending s.
73 98.093, F.S.; revising the information that the
74 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is
75 required to furnish weekly to the Department of State;
76 requiring the Department of State to report certain
77 information to supervisors within a specified
78 timeframe and for supervisors to update the voter
79 registration records; requiring that the Department of
80 State use certain information from federal jury
81 coordinators to identify voters and applicants who are
82 potentially ineligible; amending s. 99.012, F.S.;
83 prohibiting a person from qualifying for nomination as
84 a candidate of a political party if the person has not
85 been a registered member of such party for a specified
86 timeframe; prohibiting a person from qualifying for
87 specified public office if the person has changed his
88 or her name within a specified timeframe; providing
89 applicability; amending s. 99.021, F.S.; revising the
90 form of candidate oath to conform to changes made by
91 the act; amending ss. 101.151 and 101.5606, F.S.;
92 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
93 amending s. 101.56075, F.S.; requiring that all voting
94 be done by official ballot using certain pens;
95 providing an exception; amending s. 101.5608, F.S.;
96 deleting the requirement that the stub be removed from
97 the ballot and placed in an envelope; conforming
98 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
99 101.5612, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
100 by the act; amending s. 102.111, F.S.; revising the
101 meeting times of the Elections Canvassing Commission
102 to certify elections returns; amending s. 102.141,
103 F.S.; requiring that supervisors upload certain
104 results by a specified local time; requiring the
105 supervisors, on behalf of the canvassing boards, to
106 report all early voting and all tabulated vote-by-mail
107 ballots to the department; requiring canvassing boards
108 to periodically report updated precinct election
109 results by uploading the results to the department;
110 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
111 amending s. 102.166, F.S.; conforming provisions to
112 changes made by the act; creating s. 104.51, F.S.;
113 requiring that certain prosecutions be commenced
114 within a specified timeframe after a specified
115 violation is committed; creating s. 322.034, F.S.;
116 requiring, by a specified date, that Florida driver
117 licenses and Florida identification cards issued to
118 qualified applicants include the legal citizenship
119 status of the applicant on the license or card;
120 requiring the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
121 Vehicles to issue, at no charge, Florida driver
122 licenses and Florida identification cards to certain
123 licensees and cardholders; amending s. 121.121, F.S.;
124 conforming a cross-reference; reenacting s. 98.065(6),
125 F.S., relating to registration list maintenance
126 programs, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
127 98.075, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
128 101.69(2)(a), F.S., relating to the offices of the
129 supervisor of elections being open during elections to
130 receive vote-by-mail ballots in secure ballot intake
131 stations, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
132 98.015, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
133 effective date.
135 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
137 Section 1. Present subsections (10) through (47) of section
138 97.021, Florida Statutes are redesignated as subsections (11)
139 through (48), respectively, a new subsection (10) is added to
140 that section, and subsection (6) and present subsections (43)
141 and (47) of that section are amended, to read:
142 97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except
143 where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
144 (6) “Ballot” or “official ballot” means a printed sheet of
145 paper containing contests, including offices and candidates,
146 constitutional amendments, and other public measures, upon which
147 a voter’s selections will be marked by using a pen compatible
148 with or recommended for use with the voting system, for
149 tabulation by the voting system. The term includes a voter
150 verifiable paper output upon which a voter’s selections are
151 marked by a voter interface device that meets voter
152 accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities
153 under s. 301 of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s.
154 101.56062 when used in reference to:
155 (a) “Electronic or electromechanical devices” means a
156 ballot that is voted by the process of electronically
157 designating, including by touchscreen, or marking with a marking
158 device for tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data
159 processing equipment .
160 (b) “Marksense ballots” means that printed sheet of paper,
161 used in conjunction with an electronic or electromechanical vote
162 tabulation voting system, containing the names of candidates, or
163 a statement of proposed constitutional amendments or other
164 questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any
165 election, on which sheet of paper an elector casts his or her
166 vote.
167 (10) “Document acceptable as evidence of United States
168 citizenship” means any of the following documents:
169 (a) An original or certified copy of a United States birth
170 certificate.
171 (b) A valid, unexpired United States passport.
172 (c) A naturalization certificate issued by the United
173 States Department of Homeland Security.
174 (d) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the
175 United States Department of State.
176 (e) A current and valid Florida driver license or Florida
177 identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety
178 and Motor Vehicles, if such license or identification card
179 indicates United States citizenship.
180 (f) A current and valid photo identification issued by the
181 Federal Government or the state which indicates United States
182 citizenship.
183 (g) An order from a federal court granting United States
184 citizenship.
186 If the voter registration applicant’s or the voter’s legal name
187 is different from the name that appears on the document,
188 official legal documentation providing proof of legal name
189 change is also required to constitute acceptable evidence of
190 United States citizenship.
191 (44) (43) “Voter interface device” means any device that
192 communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a
193 voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates and
194 issues. A voter interface device may not be used to tabulate
195 votes. Any vote tabulation must be based upon a subsequent scan
196 of the marked marksense ballot or the voter-verifiable paper
197 output after the voter interface device process has been
198 completed.
199 (48) (47) “Voting system” means a method of casting and
200 processing votes which that functions wholly or partly by use of
201 electromechanical or electronic apparatus or by use of marksense
202 ballots and includes, but is not limited to, the equipment,
203 hardware, firmware, and software; the ballots; the procedures
204 for casting and processing votes ; and the programs, operating
205 manuals, and supplies ; and the reports , printouts, and other
206 documentation software necessary for the system’s operation.
207 Section 2. Present paragraphs (q) through (u) of subsection
208 (2) of section 97.052, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
209 paragraphs (r) through (v), respectively, and a new paragraph
210 (q) is added to that subsection, to read:
211 97.052 Uniform statewide voter registration application.—
212 (2) The uniform statewide voter registration application
213 must be designed to elicit the following information from the
214 applicant:
215 (q) Acknowledgment, by providing a box for the applicant to
216 check, that it is a third degree felony under state and federal
217 law to falsely swear or affirm or otherwise submit false
218 information on a voter registration application.
219 Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 97.0525, Florida
220 Statutes, is amended to read:
221 97.0525 Online voter registration.—
222 (4)(a) The online voter registration system must shall
223 compare the Florida driver license number or Florida
224 identification number submitted pursuant to s. 97.052(2)(n) with
225 information maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and
226 Motor Vehicles to confirm that the name and date of birth on the
227 application are consistent with the records of the Department of
228 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
229 (b) If the applicant’s name and date of birth are
230 consistent with the records of the Department of Highway Safety
231 and Motor Vehicles and the records of the Department of Highway
232 Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that the applicant has
233 provided a document acceptable as evidence of United States
234 citizenship , the online voter registration system must shall
235 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
236 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
237 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
238 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
239 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
240 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
241 97.052(2)(r) s. 97.052(2)(q) . The applicant’s legal status as a
242 United States citizen must be recorded in the statewide voter
243 registration system.
244 (c) If the applicant’s name and date of birth match the
245 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
246 but the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
247 Vehicles indicate the applicant is not a United States citizen
248 or has not provided a document acceptable as evidence of United
249 States citizenship, the online voter registration system must
250 notify the supervisor of elections that the applicant’s legal
251 status as a United States citizen could not be verified and
252 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
253 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
254 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
255 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
256 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
257 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
258 97.052(2)(r).
259 (d) If the applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be
260 verified by the records of the Department of Highway Safety and
261 Motor Vehicles, or if the applicant indicated that he or she has
262 not been issued a Florida driver license or Florida
263 identification card, the online voter registration system must
264 shall populate the applicant’s information , except for the
265 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
266 identification card number, or social security number, into a
267 printable voter registration application pursuant to s.
268 97.052(2) which and direct the applicant may to print, complete,
269 sign, and date , the application and deliver the application to
270 the supervisor of elections for disposition pursuant to s.
271 97.073.
272 (e) If the applicant indicates that he or she has not been
273 issued a Florida driver license or identification card, or
274 chooses to use the system to prepopulate an application to
275 print, sign, date, and deliver to the supervisor, the online
276 voter registration system must populate the applicant’s
277 information into a printable voter registration application
278 pursuant to s. 97.052(2) and direct the applicant to print,
279 sign, and date the application and deliver the application to
280 the supervisor for disposition under s. 97.073.
281 Section 4. Subsections (2), (4), and (6) of section 97.053,
282 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
283 97.053 Acceptance of voter registration applications.—
284 (2) A voter registration application is complete and
285 becomes the official voter registration record of that applicant
286 when all information necessary to establish the applicant’s
287 eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041 is received by a voter
288 registration official and verified pursuant to subsection (6).
289 Except as provided in subsection (6), if the applicant fails to
290 complete his or her voter registration application on or before
291 prior to the date of book closing for an election, then such
292 applicant is shall not be eligible to vote in that election.
293 (4) (a) The registration date for a valid initial voter
294 registration application that has been mailed to a driver
295 license office, a voter registration agency, an armed forces
296 recruitment office, the division, or the office of any
297 supervisor in the state and bears a clear postmark is the date
298 of that postmark. If an initial voter registration application
299 that has been mailed does not bear a postmark or if the postmark
300 is unclear, the registration date is the date the application is
301 received by any supervisor or the division, unless it is
302 received within 5 days after the closing of the books for an
303 election, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in
304 which case the registration date is the book-closing date.
305 (b) The registration date for a valid application to update
306 the voter’s record with a change of address, name, or party
307 affiliation is retroactive to the date the application was
308 initially received once the required sufficient evidence is
309 verified.
310 (6) (a) A voter registration application, including an
311 application with a change in name, address, or party
312 affiliation, may be accepted as valid only after the department
313 has verified the authenticity or nonexistence of the Florida
314 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
315 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
316 by the applicant. If a completed voter registration application
317 has been received by the book-closing deadline but the Florida
318 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
319 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
320 by the applicant cannot be verified, or if the records of the
321 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that
322 the applicant is not a United States citizen or has not provided
323 a document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship,
324 the applicant must shall be notified and that the number cannot
325 be verified and that the applicant must provide evidence to the
326 supervisor sufficient to verify the authenticity of the
327 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
328 identification card number, or last four digits of the social
329 security number or, if applicable, must provide a document
330 acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship . If the
331 applicant provides the necessary evidence, the supervisor must
332 shall place the applicant’s name on the registration rolls as an
333 active voter. If the applicant has not provided the necessary
334 evidence or the number has not otherwise been verified prior to
335 the applicant presenting himself or herself to vote, the
336 applicant must shall be provided a provisional ballot. The
337 provisional ballot must shall be counted only if the number is
338 verified by the end of the canvassing period or if the applicant
339 presents evidence to the supervisor of elections sufficient to
340 verify the authenticity of the applicant’s Florida driver
341 license number, Florida identification card number, or last four
342 digits of the social security number or, if applicable, presents
343 a document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship
344 no later than 5 p.m. of the second day following the election.
345 (b) Upon receipt of a voter registration application,
346 including an application with a change in name, address, or
347 party affiliation, which indicates that the applicant has not
348 been issued a current and valid Florida driver license, Florida
349 identification card, or social security number, or if the
350 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
351 indicate that the applicant is not a United States citizen or
352 has not provided a document acceptable as evidence of United
353 States citizenship, the supervisor of elections shall verify the
354 voter’s legal status as a United States citizen using available
355 state and federal governmental sources and, if applicable,
356 initiate notice pursuant to s. 98.075(7).
357 Section 5. Subsections (11) and (13) of section 97.057,
358 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
359 97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
360 Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
361 (11) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
362 shall enter into an agreement with the department to match
363 information in the statewide voter registration system with
364 information in the database of the Department of Highway Safety
365 and Motor Vehicles to the extent required to verify the accuracy
366 of the Florida driver license number, Florida identification
367 number, or last four digits of the social security number and
368 the legal status as a United States citizen, provided on
369 applications for voter registration as required in s. 97.053.
370 The department shall also include in the statewide voter
371 registration system the type of documentary proof that the
372 licensee or cardholder provided as evidence of United States
373 citizenship.
374 (13) Notwithstanding declinations to register or to update
375 a voter registration pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), the
376 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles , in accordance
377 with s. 98.093(8), shall must assist the Department of State in
378 regularly identifying changes in residence address on the
379 Florida driver license or Florida identification card or changes
380 in the Florida driver license or Florida identification card
381 number of such persons who may be voters of a voter . The
382 Department of State must report each such change to the
383 appropriate supervisor of elections who must change the voter’s
384 registration records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
385 Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 98.015, Florida
386 Statutes, is amended to read:
387 98.015 Supervisor of elections; election, tenure of office,
388 compensation, custody of registration-related documents, office
389 hours, successor, seal; appointment of deputy supervisors;
390 duties.—
391 (4) (a) At a minimum, the office of the supervisor must be
392 open Monday through Friday , excluding legal holidays, for a
393 period of not less than 8 hours per day, beginning no later than
394 9 a.m.
395 (b) The office of the supervisor may close to observe legal
396 holidays and other federal, state, or county-approved holidays,
397 if the office is not otherwise required to be open to fulfill
398 official duties under the Florida Election Code.
399 Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 98.045, Florida
400 Statutes, is amended to read:
401 98.045 Administration of voter registration.—
402 (1) ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANT.—
403 (a) The supervisor shall must ensure that any eligible
404 applicant for voter registration is registered to vote and that
405 each application for voter registration is processed in
406 accordance with law. The supervisor shall determine whether a
407 voter registration applicant is ineligible based on any of the
408 following:
409 1. (a) The failure to complete a voter registration
410 application as specified in s. 97.053.
411 2. (b) The applicant is deceased.
412 3. (c) The applicant has been convicted of a felony for
413 which his or her voting rights have not been restored.
414 4. (d) The applicant has been adjudicated mentally
415 incapacitated with respect to the right to vote and such right
416 has not been restored.
417 5. (e) The applicant does not meet the age requirement
418 pursuant to s. 97.041.
419 6. (f) The applicant is not a United States citizen.
420 7. (g) The applicant is a fictitious person.
421 8. (h) The applicant has provided an address of legal
422 residence that is not his or her legal residence.
423 9. (i) The applicant has provided a Florida driver license
424 number, Florida identification card number, or the last four
425 digits of a social security number that is not verifiable by the
426 department.
427 (b) If the latest voter registration records show that a
428 new applicant was previously registered but subsequently removed
429 for ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.075(7), the supervisor must
430 verify the current eligibility of the applicant to register
431 within 13 days after receipt of such records by reviewing the
432 information provided by a governmental entity listed in s.
433 98.075 or s. 98.093 to determine whether the applicant remains
434 ineligible. If the supervisor determines that the applicant is
435 ineligible, the supervisor must deny the application and notify
436 the applicant pursuant to s. 97.073.
437 Section 8. Subsection (6) and paragraph (a) of subsection
438 (7) of section 98.075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
439 98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
440 ineligibility determinations.—
441 (6) ELIGIBILITY.—
442 (a) Citizenship.—The department shall identify those
443 registered voters who are potentially ineligible based on their
444 legal status regarding United States citizenship by comparing or
445 receiving information from the Department of Highway Safety and
446 Motor Vehicles, clerks of state and federal courts, and the
447 United States Department of Homeland Security, as provided in s.
448 98.093. The department shall review such information and make an
449 initial determination as to whether the information is credible
450 and reliable. If the department determines that the information
451 is credible and reliable, the department must notify the
452 supervisor and provide a copy of the supporting documentation
453 indicating potential ineligibility of the voter to be
454 registered. Upon receipt of the notice that the department has
455 made a determination of initial credibility and reliability, the
456 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
457 (7) before the removal of a registered voter’s name from the
458 statewide voter registration system. If the voter provides a
459 document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship,
460 the supervisor must record the type of document in the statewide
461 voter registration system.
462 (b) Other bases for ineligibility OTHER BASES FOR
463 INELIGIBILITY .—Subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) do not limit or
464 restrict the department or the supervisor in his or her duty to
465 act upon direct receipt of, access to, or knowledge of
466 information from any governmental entity that identifies a
467 registered voter as potentially ineligible. If the department or
468 supervisor receives information from any governmental entity
469 other than those identified in subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) that
470 a registered voter is ineligible because the voter is deceased,
471 adjudicated a convicted felon without having had his or her
472 voting rights restored, adjudicated mentally incapacitated
473 without having had his or her voting rights restored, does not
474 meet the age requirement pursuant to s. 97.041, is not a United
475 States citizen, is a fictitious person, or has listed an address
476 that is not his or her address of legal residence, the
477 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
478 (7) before the removal of the name of a registered voter who is
479 determined to be ineligible from the statewide voter
480 registration system.
481 (7) PROCEDURES FOR REMOVAL.—
482 (a) If the supervisor receives notice or information
483 pursuant to subsections (4)-(6), the supervisor of the county in
484 which the voter is registered must:
485 1. Notify the registered voter of his or her potential
486 ineligibility by mail within 7 days after receipt of notice or
487 information. The notice must include:
488 a. A statement of the basis for the registered voter’s
489 potential ineligibility and a copy of any documentation upon
490 which the potential ineligibility is based. Such documentation
491 must include any conviction from another jurisdiction determined
492 to be a similar offense to murder or a felony sexual offense, as
493 those terms are defined in s. 98.0751.
494 b. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
495 receipt of the notice may result in a determination of
496 ineligibility and in removal of the registered voter’s name from
497 the statewide voter registration system.
498 c. A return form that requires the registered voter to
499 admit or deny the accuracy of the information underlying the
500 potential ineligibility for purposes of a final determination by
501 the supervisor.
502 d. A statement that, if the voter is denying the accuracy
503 of the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
504 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
505 determining eligibility.
506 e. Instructions for the registered voter to contact the
507 supervisor of elections of the county in which the voter is
508 registered if assistance is needed in resolving the matter.
509 f. Instructions for seeking restoration of civil rights
510 pursuant to s. 8, Art. IV of the State Constitution and
511 information explaining voting rights restoration pursuant to s.
512 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution following a felony
513 conviction, if applicable.
514 g. A list of the documents acceptable as evidence of United
515 States citizenship.
516 h. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
517 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
518 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
519 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
520 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
521 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
522 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
523 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
524 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
525 2. If the mailed notice is returned as undeliverable, the
526 supervisor must, within 14 days after receiving the returned
527 notice, either publish notice once in a newspaper of general
528 circulation in the county in which the voter was last registered
529 or publish notice on the county’s website as provided in s.
530 50.0311 or on the supervisor’s website, as deemed appropriate by
531 the supervisor. The notice must contain the following:
532 a. The voter’s name and address.
533 b. A statement that the voter is potentially ineligible to
534 be registered to vote.
535 c. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
536 the notice is published may result in a determination of
537 ineligibility by the supervisor and removal of the registered
538 voter’s name from the statewide voter registration system.
539 d. An instruction for the voter to contact the supervisor
540 no later than 30 days after the date of the published notice to
541 receive information regarding the basis for the potential
542 ineligibility and the procedure to resolve the matter.
543 e. An instruction to the voter that, if further assistance
544 is needed, the voter should contact the supervisor of elections
545 of the county in which the voter is registered.
546 f. A statement that, if the voter denies the accuracy of
547 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
548 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
549 determining eligibility.
550 g. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
551 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
552 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
553 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
554 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
555 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
556 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
557 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
558 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
559 3. If a registered voter fails to respond to a notice
560 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., the supervisor
561 must make a final determination of the voter’s eligibility
562 within 7 days after expiration of the voter’s timeframe to
563 respond. If the supervisor determines that the voter is
564 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the name of the
565 registered voter from the statewide voter registration system
566 within 7 days. The supervisor shall notify the registered voter
567 of the supervisor’s determination and action.
568 4. If a registered voter responds to the notice pursuant to
569 subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and admits the accuracy of
570 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
571 supervisor must, as soon as practicable, make a final
572 determination of ineligibility and remove the voter’s name from
573 the statewide voter registration system. The supervisor shall
574 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
575 and action.
576 5. If a registered voter responds to the notice issued
577 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and denies the
578 accuracy of the information underlying the potential
579 ineligibility but does not request a hearing, the supervisor
580 must review the evidence and make a determination of eligibility
581 no later than 30 days after receiving the response from the
582 voter. If the supervisor determines that the registered voter is
583 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the
584 statewide voter registration system upon such determination and
585 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
586 and action and that the removed voter has a right to appeal a
587 determination of ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.0755. If such
588 registered voter requests a hearing, the supervisor must send
589 notice to the registered voter to attend a hearing at a time and
590 place specified in the notice. The supervisor shall schedule and
591 issue notice for the hearing within 7 days after receiving the
592 voter’s request for a hearing and shall hold the hearing no
593 later than 30 days after issuing the notice of the hearing. A
594 voter may request an extension upon showing good cause by
595 submitting an affidavit to the supervisor as to why he or she is
596 unable to attend the scheduled hearing. Upon hearing all
597 evidence presented at the hearing, the supervisor shall make a
598 determination of eligibility within 7 days. If the supervisor
599 determines that the registered voter is ineligible, the
600 supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the statewide voter
601 registration system and notify the registered voter of the
602 supervisor’s determination and action and that the removed voter
603 has a right to appeal a determination of ineligibility pursuant
604 to s. 98.0755.
605 Section 9. Present subsection (9) of section 98.093,
606 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (10), a new
607 subsection (9) is added to that section, and subsection (8) of
608 that section is amended, to read:
609 98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
610 deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
611 persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not United
612 States citizens.—
613 (8) DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES.—The
614 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall furnish
615 weekly to the department the following information:
616 (a) Information identifying those persons whose names have
617 been removed from the Florida driver license or Florida
618 identification card database during the preceding week because
619 they have been licensed or been issued an identification card in
620 another state. The information must contain the person’s name,
621 last known Florida address, date of birth, sex, last four digits
622 of his or her social security number, and Florida driver license
623 number or Florida identification card number and, if available,
624 the address and the state in which the person is now licensed.
625 (b) Information identifying those persons who during the
626 preceding week presented evidence of non-United States
627 citizenship upon being issued a new or renewed Florida driver
628 license or Florida identification card. The information must
629 contain the person’s name; address; date of birth; last four
630 digits of the social security number, if applicable; Florida
631 driver license number or Florida identification card number, as
632 available; and alien registration number or other legal status
633 identifier.
634 (c) Information identifying those persons who during the
635 preceding week presented a document acceptable as evidence of
636 United States citizenship upon being issued a new, renewed, or
637 replacement Florida driver license or Florida identification
638 card. The information must contain the person’s name; address;
639 date of birth; last four digits of the social security number,
640 if applicable; Florida driver license number or Florida
641 identification card number, as available; type of documentary
642 proof provided in support of citizenship; and, if applicable,
643 alien registration number or other legal status identifier.
644 (d) Information identifying a change in residence address
645 on the Florida driver license or Florida identification card of
646 any person who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to register or
647 update his or her voter record. The information must contain the
648 person’s name; date of birth; last four digits of the social
649 security number, if available; and Florida driver license number
650 or Florida identification card number, as available, in order to
651 identify a voter’s registration record. The Department of State
652 must report each such change in residence address to the
653 appropriate supervisor, who must change the voter’s registration
654 records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
655 (e) Information identifying new, renewed, or replacement
656 Florida driver license or Florida identification card numbers
657 issued to persons who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to
658 register or update their voter record. The information must
659 contain the person’s name; date of birth; last four digits of
660 the social security number, if available; and the prior, if
661 applicable, and current Florida driver license number or Florida
662 identification card number in order to identify a voter’s
663 registration record. Within 7 days, the Department of State
664 shall report such information to the appropriate supervisor, who
665 must update the voter registration records.
666 (f) Information identifying those persons for which it has
667 received official information during the preceding week that the
668 person is deceased. The information must contain the name,
669 address, date of birth, last four digits of the social security
670 number, Florida driver license number or Florida identification
671 card number, and date of death of each such person.
672 (9) FEDERAL COURTS.—Upon receipt of information from a jury
673 coordinator that a person was disqualified or potentially
674 disqualified as a prospective juror from jury service due to not
675 having United States citizenship, being convicted of a felony,
676 being deceased, being a nonresident of this state, or being a
677 nonresident of the county, the department shall use such
678 information to identify registered voters or applicants for
679 voter registration who may be potentially ineligible based on
680 information provided in accordance with s. 98.075.
681 Section 10. Present subsections (5) through (8) of section
682 99.012, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7)
683 through (10), respectively, and new subsections (5) and (6) are
684 added to that section, to read:
685 99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
686 office.—
687 (5) A person may not qualify for nomination as a candidate
688 of a political party if he or she has not been a registered
689 member of that party for the 365 consecutive days immediately
690 preceding the beginning of qualifying; or as a candidate with no
691 party affiliation if he or she has not been registered without
692 party affiliation, or has been a registered member of any
693 political party, for the 365 consecutive days immediately
694 preceding the beginning of qualifying.
695 (6) A person may not qualify as a candidate for public
696 office, whether federal, state, district, county, or municipal,
697 if he or she has legally changed his or her name through a
698 petition pursuant to s. 68.07 during the 365 consecutive days
699 immediately preceding the beginning of qualifying. This
700 subsection does not apply to any change of name in proceedings
701 for dissolution of marriage or adoption of children or based on
702 a change of name conducted with a marriage certificate.
703 Section 11. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
704 section 99.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
705 99.021 Form of candidate oath.—
706 (1)
707 (b) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for
708 nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the
709 time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in
710 writing:
711 1. The party of which the person is a member.
712 2. That the person has been a registered member of the
713 political party for which he or she is seeking nomination as a
714 candidate for at least 365 consecutive days preceding before the
715 beginning of qualifying before preceding the general election
716 for which the person seeks to qualify.
717 3. That the person has paid the assessment levied against
718 him or her, if any, as a candidate for said office by the
719 executive committee of the party of which he or she is a member.
720 (c) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for office
721 as a candidate with no party affiliation shall, at the time of
722 subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing that he
723 or she is registered without any party affiliation and that he
724 or she has not been a registered member of any political party
725 for at least 365 consecutive days preceding before the beginning
726 of qualifying before preceding the general election for which
727 the person seeks to qualify.
728 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 101.151, Florida
729 Statutes, is amended to read:
730 101.151 Specifications for ballots.—
731 (1)(a) Marksense Ballots must shall be printed on paper of
732 such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from
733 the back and must shall meet the specifications of the voting
734 system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.
735 (b) Polling places and early voting sites may employ a
736 ballot-on-demand production system to print individual marksense
737 ballots, including provisional ballots, for eligible electors.
738 Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce marksense
739 vote-by-mail , early voting, and election-day ballots.
740 Section 13. Subsection (4) of section 101.5606, Florida
741 Statutes, is amended to read:
742 101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.—No
743 electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved
744 by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that:
745 (4) For systems using marksense ballots, It accepts a
746 rejected ballot pursuant to subsection (3) if a voter chooses to
747 cast the ballot, but records no vote for any office that has
748 been overvoted or undervoted.
749 Section 14. Section 101.56075, Florida Statutes, is amended
750 to read:
751 101.56075 Voting methods.—For the purpose of designating
752 ballot selections, all voting must be by official marksense
753 ballot, using a pen compatible with or recommended for use with
754 the voting system, unless a voter requests to vote using marking
755 device or a voter interface device that produces a voter
756 verifiable paper output and meets the voter accessibility
757 requirements for individuals with disabilities under s. 301 of
758 the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s. 101.56062.
759 Section 15. Section 101.5608, Florida Statutes, is amended
760 to read:
761 101.5608 Voting at the polls by electronic or
762 electromechanical method ; procedures.—
763 (1) Each voter elector desiring to vote must shall be
764 identified to the clerk or inspector of the election as a duly
765 qualified voter elector of such election and must shall sign his
766 or her name on the precinct register or other form or device
767 provided by the supervisor. The inspector shall compare the
768 signature with the signature on the identification provided by
769 the voter elector . If the inspector is reasonably sure that the
770 person is entitled to vote, the inspector must shall provide the
771 person with a ballot.
772 (2) When an electronic or electromechanical voting system
773 uses utilizes a ballot card or marksense ballot, the following
774 procedures must shall be followed:
775 (a) After receiving a ballot from an inspector, the voter
776 elector shall, without leaving the polling place, retire to a
777 booth or compartment and mark the ballot. After marking his or
778 her ballot, the voter must elector shall place the ballot in a
779 secrecy envelope so that the ballot will be deposited in the
780 tabulator without exposing the voter’s choices.
781 (b) Any voter who spoils his or her ballot or makes an
782 error may return the ballot to the election official and secure
783 another ballot, except that in no case shall a voter be
784 furnished more than three ballots. If the vote tabulation device
785 has rejected a ballot, the ballot must shall be considered
786 spoiled and a new ballot must shall be provided to the voter
787 unless the voter chooses to cast the rejected ballot. The
788 election official, without examining the original ballot, shall
789 state the possible reasons for the rejection and shall provide
790 instruction to the voter pursuant to s. 101.5611. A spoiled
791 ballot must shall be preserved, without examination, in an
792 envelope provided for that purpose. The stub shall be removed
793 from the ballot and placed in an envelope.
794 (c) The supervisor of elections shall prepare for each
795 polling place at least one ballot box to contain the ballots of
796 a particular precinct, and each ballot box must shall be plainly
797 marked with the name of the precinct for which it is intended.
798 (3) The Department of State shall promulgate rules
799 regarding voting procedures to be used when an electronic or
800 electromechanical voting system is of a type which does not use
801 utilize a ballot card or marksense ballot.
802 (4) In any election in which a write-in candidate has
803 qualified for office, the supervisor of elections shall provide
804 for write-in voting pursuant to rules adopted by the Division of
805 Elections.
806 Section 16. Subsection (5) of section 101.5612, Florida
807 Statutes, is amended to read:
808 101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.—
809 (5) Any tests involving marksense ballots pursuant to this
810 section must shall employ test ballots created by the supervisor
811 of elections using actual ballots that have been printed for the
812 election. If ballot-on-demand ballots will be used in the
813 election, the supervisor must shall also create test ballots
814 using the ballot-on-demand technology that will be used to
815 produce ballots in the election, using the same paper stock as
816 will be used for ballots in the election.
817 Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 102.111, Florida
818 Statutes, is amended to read:
819 102.111 Elections Canvassing Commission.—
820 (2) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall meet at 8
821 a.m. on the 9th day after a primary election and at 8 a.m. on
822 the 14th day after a general election to certify the returns of
823 the election for each federal, state, and multicounty office and
824 for each constitutional amendment. The meeting must be at 9
825 a.m., except for days the Legislature convenes for organization
826 session pursuant to s. 3(a), Art. III of the State Constitution,
827 on which days the meeting must be at 8 a.m. If a member of a
828 county canvassing board that was constituted pursuant to s.
829 102.141 determines, within 5 days after the certification by the
830 Elections Canvassing Commission, that a typographical error
831 occurred in the official returns of the county, the correction
832 of which could result in a change in the outcome of an election,
833 the county canvassing board must certify corrected returns to
834 the Department of State within 24 hours, and the Elections
835 Canvassing Commission must correct and recertify the election
836 returns as soon as practicable.
837 Section 18. Subsections (3) through (7) of section 102.141,
838 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
839 102.141 County canvassing board; duties.—
840 (3) The canvass, except the canvass of absent voters’
841 electors’ returns and the canvass of provisional ballots, must
842 shall be made from the returns and certificates of the
843 inspectors as signed and filed by them with the supervisor, and
844 the county canvassing board may shall not change the number of
845 votes cast for a candidate, nominee, constitutional amendment,
846 or other measure submitted to the electorate of the county,
847 respectively, in any polling place, as shown by the returns. All
848 returns must shall be made to the board on or before 2 a.m. of
849 the day following any primary, general, or other election. If
850 the returns from any precinct are missing, if there are any
851 omissions on the returns from any precinct, or if there is an
852 obvious error on any such returns, the canvassing board must
853 shall order a retabulation of the returns from such precinct.
854 Before canvassing such returns, the canvassing board shall
855 examine the tabulation of the ballots cast in such precinct and
856 determine whether the returns correctly reflect the votes cast.
857 If there is a discrepancy between the returns and the tabulation
858 of the ballots cast, the tabulation of the ballots cast must
859 shall be presumed correct and such votes must shall be canvassed
860 accordingly.
861 (4)(a) The supervisor of elections shall upload into the
862 county’s election management system by 7 p.m. local time on the
863 day before the election the results of all early voting and
864 vote-by-mail ballots that have been canvassed and tabulated by
865 the end of the early voting period. Pursuant to ss. 101.5614(8),
866 101.657, and 101.68(2), the tabulation of votes cast or the
867 results of such uploads may not be made public before the close
868 of the polls on election day.
869 (b) The supervisor, on behalf of the canvassing board ,
870 shall report all early voting and all tabulated vote-by-mail
871 results to the Department of State within 30 minutes after the
872 polls close. Thereafter, the canvassing board shall report, with
873 the exception of provisional ballot results, updated precinct
874 election results by uploading such results to the department at
875 least every 45 minutes until all results are completely
876 reported. The supervisor of elections shall notify the
877 department immediately of any circumstances that do not permit
878 periodic updates as required. Results must shall be submitted in
879 a format prescribed by the department.
880 (5) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
881 formats provided by the division unofficial returns to the
882 Department of State for each federal, statewide, state, or
883 multicounty office or ballot measure no later than noon on the
884 third day after any primary election and no later than noon on
885 the fourth day after any general or other election. Such returns
886 must shall include the canvass of all ballots , including write
887 in votes, as required by subsection (2).
888 (6) If the county canvassing board determines that the
889 unofficial returns may contain a counting error in which the
890 vote tabulation system failed to count votes that were properly
891 marked in accordance with the instructions on the ballot, the
892 county canvassing board must shall :
893 (a) Correct the error and retabulate the affected ballots
894 with the vote tabulation system; or
895 (b) Request that the Department of State verify the
896 tabulation software. When the Department of State verifies such
897 software, the department shall compare the software used to
898 tabulate the votes with the software filed with the department
899 pursuant to s. 101.5607 and check the election parameters.
900 (7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for
901 any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent
902 or less of the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for
903 retention to a judicial office was retained or not retained by
904 one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question
905 of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was
906 approved or rejected by one-half of a percent or less of the
907 votes cast on such measure, a recount shall be ordered of the
908 votes cast with respect to such office or measure. The Secretary
909 of State is responsible for ordering recounts in races that are
910 federal or , state races that are , and multicounty and any other
911 multicounty races. The county canvassing board or the local
912 board responsible for certifying the election is responsible for
913 ordering recounts in all other races. A recount need not be
914 ordered with respect to the returns for any office, however, if
915 the candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
916 contention for such office by one-half of a percent or less of
917 the votes cast for such office request in writing that a recount
918 not be made.
919 (a) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
920 recount shall put each marksense ballot through automatic
921 tabulating equipment and determine whether the returns correctly
922 reflect the votes cast. If any marksense ballot is physically
923 damaged so that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic
924 tabulating equipment during the recount, a true duplicate shall
925 be made of the damaged ballot pursuant to the procedures in s.
926 101.5614(4). Immediately before the start of the recount, a test
927 of the tabulating equipment shall be conducted as provided in s.
928 101.5612. If the test indicates no error, the recount tabulation
929 of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and such votes
930 shall be canvassed accordingly. If an error is detected, the
931 cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and the
932 recount repeated, as necessary. The canvassing board shall
933 immediately report the error, along with the cause of the error
934 and the corrective measures being taken, to the Department of
935 State. No later than 11 days after the election, the canvassing
936 board shall file a separate incident report with the Department
937 of State, detailing the resolution of the matter and identifying
938 any measures that will avoid a future recurrence of the error.
939 If the automatic tabulating equipment used in a recount is not
940 part of the voting system and the ballots have already been
941 processed through such equipment, the canvassing board is not
942 required to put each ballot through any automatic tabulating
943 equipment again.
944 (b) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
945 recount where touchscreen ballots were used shall examine the
946 counters on the precinct tabulators to ensure that the total of
947 the returns on the precinct tabulators equals the overall
948 election return. If there is a discrepancy between the overall
949 election return and the counters of the precinct tabulators, the
950 counters of the precinct tabulators shall be presumed correct
951 and such votes shall be canvassed accordingly.
952 (c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
953 formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial
954 returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide,
955 state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns
956 shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th day after any
957 primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th day after
958 any general election in which a recount was ordered by the
959 Secretary of State. If the canvassing board is unable to
960 complete the recount prescribed in this subsection by the
961 deadline, the second set of unofficial returns submitted by the
962 canvassing board shall be identical to the initial unofficial
963 returns and the submission shall also include a detailed
964 explanation of why it was unable to timely complete the recount.
965 However, the canvassing board shall complete the recount
966 prescribed in this subsection, along with any manual recount
967 prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify election returns in
968 accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
969 (d) The Department of State shall adopt detailed rules
970 prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified
971 voting system, which shall be uniform to the extent practicable.
972 Section 19. Subsection (1) of section 102.166, Florida
973 Statutes, is amended to read:
974 102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.—
975 (1) If the second set of unofficial returns pursuant to s.
976 102.141 indicates that a candidate for any office was defeated
977 or eliminated by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes
978 cast for such office, that a candidate for retention to a
979 judicial office was retained or not retained by one-quarter of a
980 percent or less of the votes cast on the question of retention,
981 or that a measure appearing on the ballot was approved or
982 rejected by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes cast
983 on such measure, a manual recount of the overvotes and
984 undervotes cast in the entire geographic jurisdiction of such
985 office or ballot measure must shall be ordered unless:
986 (a) The candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
987 contention by one-quarter of 1 percent or fewer of the votes
988 cast for such office request in writing that a recount not be
989 made; or
990 (b) The number of overvotes and undervotes is fewer than
991 the number of votes needed to change the outcome of the
992 election.
994 The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering a manual
995 recount for federal or , state races that are multicounty , and
996 any other multicounty races. The county canvassing board or
997 local board responsible for certifying the election is
998 responsible for ordering a manual recount for all other races. A
999 manual recount consists of a recount of marksense ballots or of
1000 digital images of those ballots by a person.
1001 Section 20. Section 104.51, Florida Statutes, is created to
1002 read:
1003 104.51 Time limitation; election fraud.—A prosecution for a
1004 felony violation under the Florida Election Code must be
1005 commenced within 5 years after the date the violation is
1006 committed.
1007 Section 21. Section 322.034, Florida Statutes, is created
1008 to read:
1009 322.034 Legal status designation on state-issued driver
1010 licenses and identification cards.—
1011 (1) By July 1, 2027, a Florida driver license or Florida
1012 identification card issued to a qualified applicant who is a
1013 United States citizen as last recorded in the system must
1014 include his or her legal citizenship status at the time of new
1015 issuance, renewal, or replacement.
1016 (2) Notwithstanding any other law, the department must, at
1017 no charge, issue a renewal or replacement driver license or
1018 identification card if a licensee or cardholder timely updates
1019 his or her legal status upon becoming a citizen of the United
1020 States as required in s. 322.19.
1021 Section 22. Subsection (2) of section 121.121, Florida
1022 Statutes, is amended to read:
1023 121.121 Authorized leaves of absence.—
1024 (2) A member who is required to resign his or her office as
1025 a subordinate officer, deputy sheriff, or police officer because
1026 he or she is a candidate for a public office which is currently
1027 held by his or her superior officer who is also a candidate for
1028 reelection to the same office, in accordance with s. 99.012(7)
1029 s. 99.012(5) , shall, upon return to covered employment, be
1030 eligible to purchase retirement credit for the period between
1031 his or her date of resignation and the beginning of the term of
1032 office for which he or she was a candidate as a leave of absence
1033 without pay, as provided in subsection (1).
1034 Section 23. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1035 made by this act to section 98.075, Florida Statutes, in a
1036 reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 98.065, Florida
1037 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1038 98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
1039 (6) The supervisor shall, at a minimum, conduct an annual
1040 review of voter registration records to identify registration
1041 records in which a voter is registered at an address that may
1042 not be an address of legal residence for the voter. For those
1043 registration records with such addresses that the supervisor has
1044 reasonable belief are not legal residential addresses, the
1045 supervisor shall initiate list maintenance activities pursuant
1046 to s. 98.075(6) and (7).
1047 Section 24. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1048 made by this act to section 98.015, Florida Statutes, in a
1049 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
1050 101.69, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1051 101.69 Voting in person; return of vote-by-mail ballot.—
1052 (2)(a) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has
1053 received a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted
1054 vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor by placing the return mail
1055 envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a secure ballot
1056 intake station. Secure ballot intake stations shall be placed at
1057 the main office of the supervisor, at each permanent branch
1058 office of the supervisor which meets the criteria set forth in
1059 s. 101.657(1)(a) for branch offices used for early voting and
1060 which is open for at least the minimum number of hours
1061 prescribed by s. 98.015(4), and at each early voting site.
1062 Secure ballot intake stations may also be placed at any other
1063 site that would otherwise qualify as an early voting site under
1064 s. 101.657(1). Secure ballot intake stations must be
1065 geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county
1066 with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is
1067 practicable. Except for secure ballot intake stations at an
1068 office of the supervisor, a secure ballot intake station may
1069 only be used during the county’s early voting hours of operation
1070 and must be monitored in person by an employee of the
1071 supervisor’s office. A secure ballot intake station at an office
1072 of the supervisor must be continuously monitored in person by an
1073 employee of the supervisor’s office when the secure ballot
1074 intake station is accessible for deposit of ballots.
1075 Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.