The Florida Senate

189.405  Elections; general requirements and procedures.--

(1)  If a dependent special district has an elected governing board, elections shall be conducted by the supervisor of elections of the county wherein the district is located in accordance with the Florida Election Code, chapters 97 through 106.

(2)(a)  Any independent special district located entirely in a single county may provide for the conduct of district elections by the supervisor of elections for that county. Any independent special district that conducts its elections through the office of the supervisor shall make election procedures consistent with the Florida Election Code.

(b)  Any independent special district not conducting district elections through the supervisor of elections shall report to the supervisor in a timely manner the purpose, date, authorization, procedures, and results of each election conducted by the district.

(c)  A candidate for a position on a governing board of a single-county special district that has its elections conducted by the supervisor of elections shall qualify for the office with the county supervisor of elections in whose jurisdiction the district is located. Elections for governing board members elected by registered electors shall be nonpartisan, except when partisan elections are specified by a district's charter. Candidates shall qualify by paying a filing fee equal to 3 percent of the salary or honorarium paid for the office, or a filing fee of $25, whichever is more. Alternatively, candidates may qualify by submitting a petition that contains the signatures of at least 3 percent of the district's registered electors, or any lesser amount of signatures directed by chapter 99, chapter 582, or other general or special law. No election or party assessment shall be levied if the election is nonpartisan. The qualifying fee shall be remitted to the general revenue fund of the qualifying officer to help defray the cost of the election. The petition form shall be submitted and checked in the same manner as those for nonpartisan judicial candidates pursuant to s. 105.035.

(3)(a)  If a multicounty special district has a popularly elected governing board, elections for the purpose of electing members to such board shall conform to the Florida Election Code, chapters 97 through 106.

(b)  With the exception of those districts conducting elections on a one-acre/one-vote basis, qualifying for multicounty special district governing board positions shall be coordinated by the Department of State. Elections for governing board members elected by registered electors shall be nonpartisan, except when partisan elections are specified by a district's charter. Candidates shall qualify by paying a filing fee equal to 3 percent of the salary or honorarium paid for the office, or a filing fee of $25, whichever is more. Alternatively, candidates may qualify by submitting a petition that contains the signatures of at least 3 percent of the district's registered electors, or any lesser amount of signatures directed by chapter 99, chapter 582, or other general or special law. No election or party assessment shall be levied if the election is nonpartisan. The qualifying fee shall be remitted to the Department of State. The petition form shall be submitted and checked in the same manner as those for nonpartisan judicial candidates pursuant to s. 105.035.

(4)  With the exception of elections of special district governing board members conducted on a one-acre/one-vote basis, in any election conducted in a special district the decision made by a majority of those voting shall prevail, except as otherwise specified by law.

(5)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to community development districts established pursuant to chapter 190 or to water management districts created and operated pursuant to chapter 373.

(6)  Nothing in this act requires that a special district governed by an appointed board convert to an elected governing board.

History.--s. 12, ch. 89-169; s. 13, ch. 97-255; s. 2, ch. 98-320.