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The Florida Senate

2024 Florida Statutes

Title IX ELECTORS AND ELECTIONS
Chapter 101 VOTING METHODS AND PROCEDURE Entire Chapter
SECTION 048
Provisional ballots.
F.S. 101.048
101.048 Provisional ballots.—
(1) At all elections, a voter claiming to be properly registered in the state and eligible to vote at the precinct in the election but whose eligibility cannot be determined, a person whom an election official asserts is not eligible, including, but not limited to, a person to whom notice has been sent pursuant to s. 98.075(7), but for whom a final determination of eligibility has not been made, and other persons specified in the code shall be entitled to vote a provisional ballot. Once voted, the provisional ballot must be placed in a secrecy envelope and thereafter sealed in a provisional ballot envelope. The provisional ballot must be deposited in a ballot box. All provisional ballots must remain sealed in their envelopes for return to the supervisor of elections. The department shall prescribe the form of the provisional ballot envelope. A person casting a provisional ballot has the right to present written evidence supporting his or her eligibility to vote to the supervisor of elections by not later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.
(2)(a) The county canvassing board shall examine each Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation to determine if the person voting that ballot was entitled to vote at the precinct where the person cast a vote in the election and that the person had not already cast a ballot in the election. In determining whether a person casting a provisional ballot is entitled to vote, the county canvassing board shall review the information provided in the Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation, written evidence provided by the person pursuant to subsection (1), information provided in any cure affidavit and accompanying supporting documentation pursuant to subsection (6), any other evidence presented by the supervisor, and, in the case of a challenge, any evidence presented by the challenger. A ballot of a person casting a provisional ballot shall be canvassed pursuant to paragraph (b) unless the canvassing board determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the person was not entitled to vote.
(b) If it is determined that the person was registered and entitled to vote at the precinct where the person cast a vote in the election, the canvassing board must compare the signature on the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation or the provisional ballot cure affidavit with the signature on the voter’s registration or precinct register. A provisional ballot may be counted only if:
1. The signature on the voter’s certificate or the cure affidavit matches the elector’s signature in the registration books or the precinct register; however, in the case of a cure affidavit, the supporting identification listed in subsection (6) must also confirm the identity of the elector; or
2. The cure affidavit contains a signature that does not match the elector’s signature in the registration books or the precinct register, but the elector has submitted a current and valid Tier 1 form of identification confirming his or her identity pursuant to subsection (6).

For purposes of this paragraph, any canvassing board finding that signatures do not match must be by majority vote and beyond a reasonable doubt.

(c) Any provisional ballot not counted must remain in the envelope containing the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation and the envelope shall be marked “Rejected as Illegal.”
(d) If a provisional ballot is validated following the submission of a cure affidavit, the supervisor must make a copy of the affidavit, affix it to a voter registration application, and immediately process it as a valid request for a signature update pursuant to s. 98.077.
(3) The Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation shall be in substantially the following form:

STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF  

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that my name is  ; that my date of birth is  ; that I am registered and qualified to vote in   County, Florida; that I am registered in the   Party; that I am a qualified voter of the county; and that I have not voted in this election. I understand that if I commit any fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years. Further, by providing my information below, I authorize the use of e-mail, text message, and telephone call for the limited purpose of signature and ballot validation.

  (Printed Name of Voter)  

  (Signature of Voter)  

  (Current Residence Address)  

  (Current Mailing Address)  

  (City, State, Zip Code)  

  (Driver License Number or Last Four Digits of Social Security Number)  

  (E-Mail Address)  

  (Home Telephone Number)  

  (Mobile Telephone Number)  

Sworn to and subscribed before me this   day of   ,   (year)  .

  (Election Official)  

Precinct #       Ballot Style/Party Issued:  

(4) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3), the supervisor of elections may, and for persons with disabilities shall, provide the appropriate provisional ballot to the voter by electronic means that meet the requirements of s. 101.56062, as provided for by the certified voting system. Each person casting a provisional ballot by electronic means shall, prior to casting his or her ballot, complete the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation as provided in subsection (3).
(5) Each person casting a provisional ballot shall be given written instructions regarding the person’s right to provide the supervisor with written evidence of his or her eligibility to vote and regarding the free access system established pursuant to subsection (7). The instructions must contain the supervisor’s contact information along with information on how to access the system and the information the voter will need to provide to obtain information on his or her particular ballot. The instructions shall also include the following statement: “If this is a primary election, you should contact the supervisor of elections’ office immediately to confirm that you are registered and can vote in the general election.”
(6)(a) As soon as practicable, the supervisor shall, on behalf of the county canvassing board, attempt to notify an elector who has submitted a provisional ballot that does not include the elector’s signature or contains a signature that does not match the elector’s signature in the registration books or precinct register by:
1. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by e-mail and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website;
2. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by text message and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website; or
3. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by telephone and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website.

In addition to the notification required under subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3., the supervisor must notify the elector of the signature deficiency by first-class mail and direct the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website. Beginning the day before the election, the supervisor is not required to provide notice of the signature deficiency by first-class mail, but shall continue to provide notice as required in subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3.

(b) Until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after an election, the supervisor shall allow an elector who has submitted a provisional ballot with a signature deficiency to complete and submit a cure affidavit.
(c) The elector must complete a cure affidavit in substantially the following form:

PROVISIONAL BALLOT CURE AFFIDAVIT

I,  , am a qualified voter in this election and a registered voter of   County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I voted a provisional ballot and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election, I may be convicted of a felony of the third degree, fined up to $5,000, and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this affidavit will invalidate my ballot.

  (Voter’s Signature)  

  (Address)  

(d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in substantially the following form:

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.

1. In order to cure the missing signature or the signature discrepancy on your Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election.

2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s Signature).

3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of identification:

a. Tier 1 identification.—Current and valid identification that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license; Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or credit card; military identification; student identification; retirement center identification; neighborhood association identification; public assistance identification; veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality; or

b. Tier 2 identification.—ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1 FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and current residence address: current utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; or government document (excluding voter information card).

4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your identification in the mailing envelope. Mail (if time permits), deliver, or have delivered the completed affidavit along with the copy of your identification to your county supervisor of elections. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and that the supervisor’s address is correct. Remember, your information MUST reach your county supervisor of elections no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day following the election or your ballot will not count.

5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as attachments.

6. Submitting a provisional ballot affidavit does not establish your eligibility to vote in this election or guarantee that your ballot will be counted. The county canvassing board determines your eligibility to vote through information provided on the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation, written evidence provided by you, including information in your cure affidavit along with any supporting identification, and any other evidence presented by the supervisor of elections or a challenger. You may still be required to present additional written evidence to support your eligibility to vote.

(e) The department and each supervisor shall include the affidavit and instructions on their respective websites. The supervisor shall include his or her office mailing address, e-mail address, and fax number on the page containing the affidavit instructions, and the department’s instruction page shall include the office mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, and fax numbers of all supervisors or provide a conspicuous link to such addresses.
(f) The supervisor shall attach each affidavit received to the appropriate provisional ballot envelope containing the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation.
(7)(a) Each supervisor shall establish a free access system that allows each person who casts a provisional ballot to determine whether his or her provisional ballot was counted in the final canvass of votes and, if not, the reasons why. Information regarding provisional ballots shall be available no later than 30 days following the election. The system established must restrict information regarding an individual ballot to the person who cast the ballot.
(b) Unless processed as a signature update pursuant to subsection (2), the supervisor shall mail a voter registration application to the elector to be completed indicating the elector’s current signature if the signature on the voter’s certificate or cure affidavit did not match the elector’s signature in the registration books or precinct register.
History.—s. 35, ch. 2001-40; s. 6, ch. 2002-17; s. 15, ch. 2003-415; s. 24, ch. 2005-277; s. 32, ch. 2005-278; s. 27, ch. 2007-30; s. 8, ch. 2019-162; s. 22, ch. 2023-120.