Florida Senate - 2019                                    SB 1386
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       37-02046A-19                                          20191386__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to elections; amending s. 101.048,
    3         F.S.; revising the deadline by which a person who
    4         casts a provisional ballot must submit any written
    5         evidence that supports his or her eligibility to vote;
    6         amending s. 101.151, F.S.; revising requirements for
    7         Department of State rules governing uniform ballot
    8         layout; creating s. 101.201, F.S.; requiring the
    9         supervisor of elections to provide an option to allow
   10         electors to receive certain notices by electronic
   11         delivery; amending s. 101.6104, F.S.; authorizing an
   12         elector to file a challenge with the county canvassing
   13         board if his or her ballot is rejected due to a
   14         signature discrepancy; amending s. 101.65, F.S.;
   15         revising instructions for vote-by-mail ballots, to
   16         conform; amending s. 101.657, F.S.; clarifying that
   17         ballots cast during the early voting period may be
   18         canvassed and processed during such period; revising
   19         the period for which the supervisor must provide early
   20         voting; amending s. 101.67, F.S.; revising the
   21         deadline for receiving vote-by-mail ballots; amending
   22         s. 101.68, F.S.; requiring the supervisor of elections
   23         to immediately compare a voter’s signature on a vote
   24         by-mail ballot with registration records, upon
   25         receipt; modifying procedures regarding notifications
   26         of vote-by-mail ballot defects; revising the deadline
   27         for submitting a vote-by-mail cure affidavit;
   28         modifying the cure affidavit instructions, to conform;
   29         requiring the Division of Elections to develop uniform
   30         guidelines regarding certain procedures; creating s.
   31         101.681, F.S.; requiring the division to develop a
   32         training curriculum to provide standardization of
   33         signature verification practices relating to
   34         canvassing; requiring persons who verify signatures to
   35         complete the training before making determinations
   36         regarding signature validity; amending s. 101.6923,
   37         F.S.; revising special vote-by-mail ballot
   38         instructions for certain first-time voters, to
   39         conform; amending s. 101.6952, F.S.; modifying
   40         timeframes regarding the canvassing of federal write
   41         in absentee ballots, to conform; amending s. 102.111,
   42         F.S.; revising the date of certification of the
   43         primary election by the Elections Canvassing
   44         Commission; adding an additional meeting of the
   45         commission for certification of any general election
   46         races with pending recounts; amending s. 102.112,
   47         F.S.; revising deadlines for submission of county
   48         returns to the department; amending s. 102.141, F.S.;
   49         adding an exception to the deadline for filing returns
   50         for any general election races with pending recounts;
   51         amending s. 102.166, F.S.; revising certification
   52         requirements for voting systems to require
   53         functionality for the simultaneous sorting and
   54         counting of overvotes and undervotes; amending s.
   55         99.063, F.S.; modifying the deadline for designation
   56         of Lieutenant Governor candidates to conform to the
   57         new primary certification date; providing an effective
   58         date.
   59          
   60  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   61  
   62         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 101.048, Florida
   63  Statutes, is amended to read:
   64         101.048 Provisional ballots.—
   65         (1) At all elections, a voter claiming to be properly
   66  registered in the state and eligible to vote at the precinct in
   67  the election but whose eligibility cannot be determined, a
   68  person whom an election official asserts is not eligible, and
   69  other persons specified in the code shall be entitled to vote a
   70  provisional ballot. Once voted, the provisional ballot shall be
   71  placed in a secrecy envelope and thereafter sealed in a
   72  provisional ballot envelope. The provisional ballot shall be
   73  deposited in a ballot box. All provisional ballots shall remain
   74  sealed in their envelopes for return to the supervisor of
   75  elections. The department shall prescribe the form of the
   76  provisional ballot envelope. A person casting a provisional
   77  ballot has shall have the right to present written evidence
   78  supporting his or her eligibility to vote to the supervisor of
   79  elections by not later than 5 p.m. on the 10th second day
   80  following the election.
   81         Section 2. Subsection (9) of section 101.151, Florida
   82  Statutes, is amended to read:
   83         101.151 Specifications for ballots.—
   84         (9)(a) The Department of State shall adopt rules
   85  prescribing a uniform primary and general election ballot layout
   86  statewide, regardless of which for each certified voting system
   87  is used. The department shall solicit recommendations from
   88  supervisors of elections in prescribing the uniform ballot
   89  layout. The rules must shall incorporate the requirements set
   90  forth in this section and shall prescribe additional matters and
   91  forms that include, but are not limited to without limitation:
   92         1. Clear and unambiguous ballot instructions and
   93  directions;
   94         2. Individual race layout; and
   95         3. Overall ballot layout.
   96         (b) The department rules must shall graphically depict a
   97  sample uniform primary and general election ballot form for each
   98  certified voting system.
   99         Section 3. Section 101.201, Florida Statutes, is created to
  100  read:
  101         101.201 Electronic delivery of notices.—In addition to the
  102  electronic delivery of sample ballots as authorized under s.
  103  101.20, the supervisor shall provide an option to allow an
  104  elector to opt in to receive certain notices from the supervisor
  105  by e-mail or other electronic means. For purposes of this
  106  section, notices include, but are not limited to, notifications
  107  for the following: receipt of a vote-by-mail ballot request or a
  108  voted vote-by-mail ballot; rejected vote-by-mail ballots; the
  109  acceptance or rejection of a vote-by-mail ballot cure affidavit
  110  or a provisional ballot; or for updates to an elector’s voter
  111  registration record.
  112         Section 4. Section 101.6104, Florida Statutes, is amended
  113  to read:
  114         101.6104 Challenge of votes.—
  115         (1) If any elector present for the canvass of votes
  116  believes that any ballot is illegal due to any defect apparent
  117  on the voter’s certificate, the elector may, at any time before
  118  the ballot is removed from the envelope, may file with the
  119  canvassing board a protest against the canvass of such ballot,
  120  specifying the reason he or she believes the ballot to be
  121  illegal. A No challenge based upon any defect on the voter’s
  122  certificate may not shall be accepted after the ballot has been
  123  removed from the return mailing envelope.
  124         (2) If an elector’s ballot is rejected by reason of the
  125  lack of a signature match and the elector is unable to remedy
  126  the defect through submission of a vote-by-mail cure affidavit
  127  or other authorized means, the elector may file with the
  128  canvassing board a protest against the rejection of his or her
  129  ballot, specifying the reason why he or she believes the ballot
  130  should be canvassed.
  131         Section 5. Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  132  read:
  133         101.65 Instructions to absent electors.—The supervisor
  134  shall enclose with each vote-by-mail ballot separate printed
  135  instructions in substantially the following form:
  136  
  137                  READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY                
  138                       BEFORE MARKING BALLOT.                      
  139         1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that your vote-by
  140  mail ballot will be counted, it should be completed and returned
  141  as soon as possible so that it can be postmarked or dated no
  142  later than the day of the election and reach the supervisor of
  143  elections of the county in which your precinct is located no
  144  later than 10 days after 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
  145  However, if you are an overseas voter casting a ballot in a
  146  presidential preference primary or general election, your vote
  147  by-mail ballot must be postmarked or dated no later than the
  148  date of the election and received by the supervisor of elections
  149  of the county in which you are registered to vote no later than
  150  10 days after the date of the election.
  151         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
  152  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
  153  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
  154         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
  155  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
  156  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one candidate,
  157  your vote in that race will not be counted.
  158         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
  159  envelope.
  160         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed mailing
  161  envelope which is addressed to the supervisor.
  162         6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out the
  163  Voter’s Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope.
  164         7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for your vote-by-mail ballot to
  165  be counted, you must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
  166  Signature). A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and
  167  not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does
  168  not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the
  169  start of the canvass of the vote-by-mail ballots is the
  170  signature that will be used to verify your signature on the
  171  voter’s certificate. If you need to update your signature for
  172  this election, send your signature update on a voter
  173  registration application to your supervisor of elections so that
  174  it is received no later than the start of the canvassing of
  175  vote-by-mail ballots, which occurs no earlier than the 15th day
  176  before election day.
  177         8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas voter, you must
  178  include the date you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line
  179  above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted.
  180         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
  181  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
  182         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
  183  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
  184  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
  185  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
  186  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
  187         Section 6. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
  188  section 101.657, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  189         101.657 Early voting.—
  190         (1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of
  191  elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or
  192  branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark,
  193  code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for
  194  each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used
  195  for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the
  196  supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for
  197  at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also
  198  designate any city hall, permanent public library facility,
  199  fairground, civic center, courthouse, county commission
  200  building, stadium, convention center, government-owned senior
  201  center, or government-owned community center as early voting
  202  sites; however, if so designated, the sites must be
  203  geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county
  204  an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is
  205  practicable. In addition, a supervisor may designate one early
  206  voting site per election in an area of the county that does not
  207  have any of the eligible early voting locations. Such additional
  208  early voting site must be geographically located so as to
  209  provide all voters in that area with an equal opportunity to
  210  cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable. Each county shall, at
  211  a minimum, operate the same total number of early voting sites
  212  for a general election which the county operated for the 2012
  213  general election. Ballots The results or tabulation of votes
  214  cast during early voting may be canvassed or otherwise processed
  215  as they are cast; however, the results of the canvassing or
  216  processing of such ballots may not be released made before the
  217  close of the polls on election day. Results shall be reported by
  218  precinct.
  219         (d) Early voting shall begin on the 15th 10th day before an
  220  election that contains state or federal races and end on the 2nd
  221  3rd day before the election, and shall be provided for no less
  222  than 8 hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site
  223  during the applicable period. In addition, early voting may be
  224  offered at the discretion of the supervisor of elections on the
  225  15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election that
  226  contains state or federal races for at least 8 hours per day,
  227  but not more than 12 hours per day. The supervisor of elections
  228  may provide early voting for elections that are not held in
  229  conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the
  230  supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of
  231  operation of early voting sites in those elections.
  232         Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 101.67, Florida
  233  Statutes, is amended to read:
  234         101.67 Safekeeping of mailed ballots; deadline for
  235  receiving vote-by-mail ballots.—
  236         (2) Except as provided in s. 101.6952(5), All marked vote
  237  by-mail absent electors’ ballots to be counted must be
  238  postmarked or dated no later than the day of the election and
  239  received by the supervisor by no later than 10 days after the
  240  day 7 p.m. the day of the election. All ballots received
  241  thereafter shall be marked with the time and date of receipt and
  242  filed in the supervisor’s office.
  243         Section 8. Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a) and (c) of
  244  subsection (4) of section 101.68, Florida Statutes, are amended,
  245  and paragraph (g) is added to subsection (4) of that section, to
  246  read:
  247         101.68 Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot.—
  248         (1) The supervisor of the county where the absent elector
  249  resides shall receive the voted ballot, at which time the
  250  supervisor shall immediately compare the signature of the
  251  elector on the voter’s certificate with the signature of the
  252  elector in the registration books or the precinct register to
  253  determine whether the elector is duly registered in the county
  254  and may record on the elector’s registration certificate that
  255  the elector has voted. An elector who dies after casting a vote
  256  by-mail ballot but on or before election day shall remain listed
  257  in the registration books until the results have been certified
  258  for the election in which the ballot was cast. The supervisor
  259  shall safely keep the ballot unopened in his or her office until
  260  the county canvassing board canvasses the vote. Except as
  261  provided in subsection (4), after a vote-by-mail ballot is
  262  received by the supervisor, the ballot is deemed to have been
  263  cast, and changes or additions may not be made to the voter’s
  264  certificate.
  265         (4)(a) The supervisor shall, on behalf of the county
  266  canvassing board, immediately notify an elector who has returned
  267  a vote-by-mail ballot that does not include the elector’s
  268  signature or contains a signature that does not match the
  269  elector’s signature in the registration books or precinct
  270  register. If the supervisor has an e-mail address or telephone
  271  number of the elector, the supervisor must provide notification
  272  to the elector of the defect through e-mail, text message, or
  273  phone before attempting notification by any other means. The
  274  supervisor shall allow such an elector to complete and submit an
  275  affidavit in order to cure the vote-by-mail ballot until 5 p.m.
  276  on the 10th day after before the election.
  277         (c) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in
  278  substantially the following form:
  279  
  280         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE
  281  AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
  282  BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
  283  
  284         1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
  285  counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon
  286  as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of
  287  the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5
  288  p.m. on the 10th day after before the election.
  289         2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
  290  Signature).
  291         3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of
  292  identification:
  293         a. Tier 1 identification.—Current and valid identification
  294  that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license;
  295  Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway
  296  Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or
  297  credit card; military identification; student identification;
  298  retirement center identification; neighborhood association
  299  identification; public assistance identification; veteran health
  300  identification card issued by the United States Department of
  301  Veterans Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon
  302  or firearm; or an employee identification card issued by any
  303  branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government,
  304  the state, a county, or a municipality; or
  305         b. Tier 2 identification.—ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1
  306  FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and
  307  current residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
  308  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
  309  voter identification card).
  310         4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing
  311  envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your
  312  identification in the mailing envelope. Mail, deliver, or have
  313  delivered the completed affidavit along with the copy of your
  314  identification to your county supervisor of elections. Be sure
  315  there is sufficient postage if mailed and that the supervisor’s
  316  address is correct.
  317         5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed
  318  affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of
  319  elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as
  320  attachments.
  321         (g) The division shall develop uniform guidelines regarding
  322  procedures for supervisors of elections to notify an elector of
  323  the rejection or acceptance of a vote-by-mail ballot and the
  324  process by which the elector may cure a vote-by-mail ballot that
  325  is rejected due to a missing signature on the voter’s
  326  certificate or a discrepancy with the elector’s signature in the
  327  registration books or precinct register.
  328         Section 9. Section 101.681, Florida Statutes, is created to
  329  read:
  330         101.681 Standardization of signature verification
  331  practices.—The division shall develop a training curriculum to
  332  ensure the use of uniform statewide practices in verifying voter
  333  signatures in the canvassing of vote-by-mail ballots, in
  334  addition to verifying signatures on a Provisional Ballot Voter’s
  335  Certificate and Affirmation and petitions circulated for
  336  purposes of candidate qualifying or initiatives for proposed
  337  revisions or amendments to the State Constitution. The division
  338  shall implement the training before the 2020 general election
  339  and periodically review and update the curriculum as it deems
  340  appropriate. A person may not make determinations regarding a
  341  signature’s validity until he or she has completed the training.
  342         Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida
  343  Statutes, is amended to read:
  344         101.6923 Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for
  345  certain first-time voters.—
  346         (2) A voter covered by this section shall be provided with
  347  printed instructions with his or her vote-by-mail ballot in
  348  substantially the following form:
  349  
  350         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR
  351         BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE
  352         YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
  353  
  354         1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
  355  counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible
  356  so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county
  357  in which your precinct is located no later than 10 days after 7
  358  p.m. on the date of the election. However, if you are an
  359  overseas voter casting a ballot in a presidential preference
  360  primary or general election, your vote-by-mail ballot must be
  361  postmarked or dated no later than the date of the election and
  362  received by the supervisor of elections of the county in which
  363  you are registered to vote no later than 10 days after the date
  364  of the election.
  365         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
  366  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
  367  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
  368         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
  369  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
  370  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in
  371  that race will not be counted.
  372         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
  373  envelope and seal the envelope.
  374         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope
  375  bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and
  376  completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the
  377  envelope.
  378         a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
  379  Signature).
  380         b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date
  381  you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or
  382  your ballot may not be counted.
  383         c. A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and
  384  will not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate
  385  does not match the signature on record. The signature on file at
  386  the start of the canvass of the vote-by-mail ballots is the
  387  signature that will be used to verify your signature on the
  388  Voter’s Certificate. If you need to update your signature for
  389  this election, send your signature update on a voter
  390  registration application to your supervisor of elections so that
  391  it is received no later than the start of canvassing of vote-by
  392  mail ballots, which occurs no earlier than the 15th day before
  393  election day.
  394         6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you
  395  must make a copy of one of the following forms of
  396  identification:
  397         a. Identification which must include your name and
  398  photograph: United States passport; debit or credit card;
  399  military identification; student identification; retirement
  400  center identification; neighborhood association identification;
  401  public assistance identification; veteran health identification
  402  card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
  403  a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or an
  404  employee identification card issued by any branch, department,
  405  agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a
  406  county, or a municipality; or
  407         b. Identification which shows your name and current
  408  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
  409  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
  410  voter identification card).
  411         7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply
  412  if you meet one of the following requirements:
  413         a. You are 65 years of age or older.
  414         b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
  415         c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty
  416  who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the
  417  county on election day.
  418         d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason
  419  of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the
  420  county on election day.
  421         e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to
  422  in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active
  423  duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on
  424  election day.
  425         f. You are currently residing outside the United States.
  426         8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into
  427  the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy
  428  of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR
  429  IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR
  430  INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR
  431  BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT.
  432         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
  433  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
  434         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
  435  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
  436  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
  437  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
  438  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
  439         Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
  440  (5) of section 101.6952, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  441         101.6952 Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services
  442  and overseas voters.—
  443         (3)
  444         (b) A federal write-in absentee ballot may not be canvassed
  445  until 7 p.m. on the day of the election. A federal write-in
  446  absentee ballot from an overseas voter in a presidential
  447  preference primary or general election may not be canvassed
  448  until the conclusion of the 10-day period specified in
  449  subsection (5). Each federal write-in absentee ballot received
  450  by 7 p.m. on the day of the election shall be canvassed pursuant
  451  to ss. 101.5614(4) and 101.68, unless the elector’s official
  452  vote-by-mail ballot is received by 7 p.m. on election day. Each
  453  federal write-in absentee ballot from an overseas voter in a
  454  presidential preference primary or general election received by
  455  10 days after the date of the election shall be canvassed
  456  pursuant to ss. 101.5614(4) and 101.68, unless the overseas
  457  voter’s official vote-by-mail ballot is received by 10 days
  458  after the date of the election. If the elector’s official vote
  459  by-mail ballot is received by 7 p.m. on election day, or, for an
  460  overseas voter in a presidential preference primary or general
  461  election, no later than 10 days after the date of the election,
  462  the federal write-in absentee ballot is invalid and the official
  463  vote-by-mail ballot shall be canvassed. The time shall be
  464  regulated by the customary time in standard use in the county
  465  seat of the locality.
  466         (5) A vote-by-mail ballot from an overseas voter in any
  467  presidential preference primary or general election which is
  468  postmarked or dated no later than the date of the election and
  469  is received by the supervisor of elections of the county in
  470  which the overseas voter is registered no later than 10 days
  471  after the date of the election shall be counted as long as the
  472  vote-by-mail ballot is otherwise proper.
  473         Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 102.111, Florida
  474  Statutes, is amended to read:
  475         102.111 Elections Canvassing Commission.—
  476         (2)(a) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall meet at 9
  477  a.m. on the 9th day after a primary election and at 9 a.m. on
  478  the 14th day after a primary election and a general election to
  479  certify the returns of the election for each federal, state, and
  480  multicounty office, except for those races with a pending
  481  general election recount.
  482         (b) The commission shall meet at 9 a.m. on the 21st day
  483  after a general election to certify the returns in the remaining
  484  races.
  485         (c) If a member of a county canvassing board that was
  486  constituted pursuant to s. 102.141 determines, within 5 days
  487  after the certification by the Elections Canvassing Commission,
  488  that a typographical error occurred in the official returns of
  489  the county, the correction of which could result in a change in
  490  the outcome of an election, the county canvassing board must
  491  certify corrected returns to the Department of State within 24
  492  hours, and the Elections Canvassing Commission must correct and
  493  recertify the election returns as soon as practicable.
  494         Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 102.112, Florida
  495  Statutes, is amended to read:
  496         102.112 Deadline for submission of county returns to the
  497  Department of State.—
  498         (2)(a) Returns must be filed by noon 5 p.m. on the 12th 7th
  499  day following a primary election, and by noon on the 12th day
  500  following the general election for all races, except races in a
  501  general election which are subject to a recount.
  502         (b) For all races in a general election which are subject
  503  to a recount, returns must be filed by 5 p.m. on the 19th day
  504  following the general election.
  505         (c)However, The Department of State may correct
  506  typographical errors, including the transposition of numbers, in
  507  any returns submitted to the Department of State pursuant to s.
  508  102.111(2).
  509         Section 14. Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of section
  510  102.141, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  511         102.141 County canvassing board; duties.—
  512         (7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for
  513  any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent
  514  or less of the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for
  515  retention to a judicial office was retained or not retained by
  516  one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question
  517  of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was
  518  approved or rejected by one-half of a percent or less of the
  519  votes cast on such measure, a recount shall be ordered of the
  520  votes cast with respect to such office or measure. The Secretary
  521  of State is responsible for ordering recounts in federal, state,
  522  and multicounty races. The county canvassing board or the local
  523  board responsible for certifying the election is responsible for
  524  ordering recounts in all other races. A recount need not be
  525  ordered with respect to the returns for any office, however, if
  526  the candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
  527  contention for such office by one-half of a percent or less of
  528  the votes cast for such office request in writing that a recount
  529  not be made.
  530         (c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
  531  formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial
  532  returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide,
  533  state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns
  534  shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th day after any
  535  primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th day after
  536  any general election in which a recount was ordered by the
  537  Secretary of State. However, returns may be filed later than 3
  538  p.m. on the 9th day after the general election if the Secretary
  539  of State has ordered a recount for a federal, state, or
  540  multicounty office. If the canvassing board is unable to
  541  complete the recount prescribed in this subsection by the
  542  deadline, the second set of unofficial returns submitted by the
  543  canvassing board shall be identical to the initial unofficial
  544  returns and the submission shall also include a detailed
  545  explanation of why it was unable to timely complete the recount.
  546  However, the canvassing board shall complete the recount
  547  prescribed in this subsection, along with any manual recount
  548  prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify election returns in
  549  accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
  550         Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 102.166, Florida
  551  Statutes, is amended to read:
  552         102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.—
  553         (2)(a) Any hardware or software used to identify and sort
  554  overvotes and undervotes for a given race or ballot measure must
  555  be certified by the Department of State as part of the voting
  556  system pursuant to s. 101.015. Any such hardware or software
  557  must be capable of simultaneously identifying and sorting
  558  overvotes and undervotes while simultaneously counting votes for
  559  each race that is subject to a manual recount.
  560         (b) Overvotes and undervotes shall be identified and sorted
  561  while recounting ballots pursuant to s. 102.141, if the hardware
  562  or software for this purpose has been certified or the
  563  department’s rules so provide.
  564         Section 16. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 99.063,
  565  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  566         99.063 Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.—
  567         (1) No later than 5 p.m. of the 14th 9th day following the
  568  primary election, each candidate for Governor shall designate a
  569  Lieutenant Governor as a running mate. Such designation must be
  570  made in writing to the Department of State.
  571         (2) No later than 5 p.m. of the 14th 9th day following the
  572  primary election, each designated candidate for Lieutenant
  573  Governor shall file with the Department of State:
  574         (a) The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
  575  contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
  576  ballot; the office sought; and the signature of the candidate,
  577  which must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
  578  92.525(1)(a).
  579         (b) If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
  580  of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b).
  581         (c) The full and public disclosure of financial interests
  582  pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution. A public
  583  officer who has filed the full and public disclosure with the
  584  Commission on Ethics prior to qualifying for office may file a
  585  copy of that disclosure at the time of qualifying.
  586         Section 17. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.