The Florida Senate

101.151  Specifications for general election ballot.--In counties in which voting machines are not used, and in other counties for use as absentee ballots not designed for tabulation by an electronic or electromechanical voting system, the general election ballot shall conform to the following specifications:

(1)  The ballot shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back.

(2)  Across the top of the ballot shall be printed "Official Ballot, General Election," beneath which shall be printed the county, the precinct number, and the date of the election. The precinct number, however, shall not be required for absentee ballots. Above the caption of the ballot shall be two stubs with a perforated line between the stubs and between the lower stub and the top of the ballot. The top stub shall be stub No. 1 and shall have printed thereon, "General Election, Official Ballot," and then shall appear the name of the county, the precinct number, and the date of the election. On the left side shall be a blank line under which shall be printed "Signature of Voter." On the right side shall be "Initials of Issuing Official," above which there shall be a blank line. The second stub shall be the same, except there shall not be a space for signature of the elector. Both stubs No. 1 and No. 2 on ballots for each precinct shall be prenumbered consecutively, beginning with "No. 1." However, a second stub shall not be required for absentee ballots.

(3)(a)  Beneath the caption and preceding the names of candidates shall be the following words: "To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot, place a cross (X) mark in the blank space at the right of the name of the candidate for whom you desire to vote. To vote for a write-in candidate, write the name of the candidate in the blank space provided for that purpose." The ballot shall have headings under which shall appear the names of the offices and names of duly nominated candidates for the respective offices in the following order: the heading "Electors for President and Vice President" and thereunder the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by the political party which received the highest vote for Governor in the last general election of the Governor in this state, above which shall appear the name of said party. Then shall appear the names of other candidates for President and Vice President of the United States who have been properly nominated. Votes cast for write-in candidates for President and Vice President shall be counted as votes cast for the presidential electors supporting such candidates. Then shall follow the heading "Congressional" and thereunder the offices of United States Senator and Representative in Congress; then the heading "State" and thereunder the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Agriculture, state attorney, and public defender, together with the names of the candidates for each office and the title of the office which they seek; then the heading "Legislative" and thereunder the offices of state senator and state representative; then the heading "County" and thereunder clerk of the circuit court, clerk of the county court (when authorized by law), sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, district superintendent of schools, and supervisor of elections. Thereafter follows: members of the board of county commissioners, members of the district school board, and such other county offices as are involved in the general election, in the order fixed by the Department of State. When a write-in candidate has qualified for any office, a subheading "Write-in Candidate for  (name of office) " shall be provided followed by a blank space in which to write the name of the candidate. With respect to write-in candidates, if two or more candidates are seeking election to one office, only one blank space shall be provided.

(b)  Immediately following the name of each office on the ballot shall be printed, "Vote for One." When more than one candidate is nominated for office, the candidates for such office shall qualify and run in a group or district, and the group or district number shall be printed beneath the name of the office. The name of the office shall be printed over each numbered group or district and each numbered group or district shall be clearly separated from the next numbered group or district, the same as in the case of single offices. Following the group or district number shall be printed the words, "Vote for One," and the names of the candidates in the respective groups or districts shall be arranged thereunder.

(4)  The names of the candidates of the party which received the highest number of votes for Governor in the last election in which a Governor was elected shall be placed first under the heading for each office, together with an appropriate abbreviation of party name; the names of the candidates of the party which received the second highest vote for Governor shall be second under the heading for each office, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name.

(5)  Minor political party candidates and independent candidates shall have their names appear on the general election ballot following the names of recognized political parties, in the same order as they were certified.

(6)  Except for justices of the Supreme Court and judges of district courts of appeal, the names of unopposed candidates shall not appear on the general election ballot. Each unopposed candidate shall be deemed to have voted for himself or herself.

(7)  The same requirement as to the type, size, and kind of printing of official ballots in primary elections as provided in s. 101.141(5) shall govern the printing of official ballots in general elections.

(8)  Should the above directions for complete preparation of the ballot be insufficient, the Department of State shall determine and prescribe any additional matter or form. Not less than 60 days prior to a general election, the Department of State shall mail to each supervisor of elections the format of the ballot to be used for the general election.

(9)  The provisions of s. 101.141(7) shall be applicable in printing of said ballot.

History.--s. 35, ch. 4328, 1895; GS 219; s. 1, ch. 5612, 1907; RGS 264; CGL 320; s. 5, ch. 17898, 1937; ss. 2, 3, ch. 25187, 1949; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 3, ch. 29937, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-235; s. 2, ch. 59-334; s. 8, ch. 65-380; s. 1, ch. 65-52; s. 2, ch. 65-60; s. 8, ch. 65-380; s. 4, ch. 67-386; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 69-281; s. 1, ch. 69-380; s. 37, ch. 73-333; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 13, ch. 77-175; s. 33, ch. 79-400; s. 6, ch. 81-105; s. 11, ch. 81-304; s. 9, ch. 82-143; s. 20, ch. 89-338; s. 556, ch. 95-147.

Note.--Former ss. 99.18, 99.171.