Senate Bill 1652
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 1652
By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senators
Saunders, Kirkpatrick, Rossin and Sebesta
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Florida Voter
3 Information Guide; requiring the chief election
4 officer to produce an electronic voter
5 information guide before certain elections;
6 prescribing the content of the guide;
7 establishing procedures and deadlines for the
8 submission and posting of information;
9 providing an appropriation; providing an
10 effective date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Short title.--This act may be cited as the
15 "Florida Voter Information Guide Act."
16 Section 2. Florida voter information guide.--
17 (1) Before each general election, and before each
18 special election at which a constitutional amendment will be
19 voted on, the chief election officer shall produce a voter
20 information guide that will be made available on the Internet.
21 The chief election officer may also produce and distribute a
22 nonelectronic version of the voter information guide, but the
23 chief election officer must adopt administrative rules for
24 this purpose.
25 (2) Material submitted for inclusion in any voter
26 information guide may not be admitted into evidence in any
27 suit or action brought against the chief election officer to
28 restrain or enjoin the publication of all or a part of the
29 guide.
30 (3) In addition to the information required by this
31 act, the chief election officer may adopt rules to include in
1
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1 the voter information guide other nonpartisan information that
2 is beneficial to voters.
3 Section 3. Florida voter information guide;
4 nonjudicial candidates.--
5 (1) As used in this section, the term "candidate" means
6 any person as defined in section 97.021, Florida Statutes,
7 other than a candidate for judicial office, who is required by
8 law to qualify for election with the Department of State.
9 (2)(a) The voter information guide must include the
10 following information concerning each candidate who files
11 information with the chief election officer meeting the
12 requirements of this section:
13 1. The office sought;
14 2. A brief general description of the duties of the
15 office;
16 3. The candidate's name;
17 4. The candidate's political party;
18 5. The candidate's mailing address;
19 6. An unretouched photograph of the candidate, taken
20 within 2 years before submission to the chief election
21 officer;
22 7. The candidate's written statement in support of his
23 or her candidacy; and
24 8. The candidate's campaign telephone number and links
25 to the candidate's e-mail address and web site, if available.
26 (b) For federal candidates, the chief election officer
27 must include on-line the information specified in
28 subparagraphs (a)1. through (a)5. within 3 business days after
29 the candidate qualifies for office or files with the chief
30 election officer a Statement of Candidacy or letter containing
31 the required information, whichever occurs earlier. For
2
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1 nonfederal candidates, the chief election officer must include
2 on-line the information specified in subparagraphs (a)1.
3 through (a)5. within 3 business days after the candidate files
4 the appointment of a campaign treasurer and designation of
5 campaign depository with the Department of State. For all
6 candidates, the chief election officer must make available
7 on-line the candidate's photograph, the candidate's statement,
8 and the candidate's campaign telephone number, e-mail address,
9 and web address within 5 business days after the candidate has
10 filed the information, or reject all or a part of the
11 information submitted and provide notice pursuant to
12 subsection (3). Until the chief election officer has received
13 information meeting the requirements of this section or during
14 the pendency of a judicial action pursuant to subsection (3),
15 the chief election officer shall use the phrase "Not
16 Available" in the voter information guide in lieu of the
17 missing or defective item of information.
18 (c) No later than 21 days before the general election,
19 each candidate may file with the chief election officer the
20 information required in subparagraphs (a)6. through (a)8.
21 (d) Each candidate's statement submitted pursuant to
22 this section:
23 1. Must not exceed 250 words, excluding the
24 candidate's name, party, mailing address, telephone number,
25 and e-mail and web addresses;
26 2. Must not contain any direct or indirect reference
27 to an opposing candidate;
28 3. Must not include the name of any person or
29 organization cited as supporting or endorsing the candidate or
30 any part of the statement, unless at the time of filing the
31 statement the candidate files a sworn, written oath or
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1 affirmation by the person, or by an authorized person on
2 behalf of an organization, consenting to the use of the name
3 of the person or organization for that purpose; and
4 4. Must consist only of words, numbers, and
5 punctuation marks.
6 (e) Each photograph submitted pursuant to this
7 section:
8 1. Must have been taken within 2 years before the date
9 of filing;
10 2. Must be a conventional photograph that has a plain
11 background;
12 3. Must show only the face or the head, neck, and
13 shoulders of the candidate;
14 4. Must be unretouched, with no alteration or
15 manipulation of the candidate's likeness or image after the
16 taking of the photograph;
17 5. Must not include the hands or anything held in the
18 hands of the candidate;
19 6. Must not show the candidate wearing a judicial
20 robe, a hat, or a military, police, or fraternal uniform; and
21 7. Must not show the uniform or insignia of any
22 organization.
23 (f) Once a candidate's statement or photograph has
24 been filed with the chief election officer, it may be
25 withdrawn only by written request of the candidate prior to
26 publication. Except for the candidate's name, mailing address,
27 campaign telephone number, e-mail address, or web address, the
28 statement or photograph may not be amended or modified except
29 as provided in subsection (3). Changes to the candidate's
30 name, mailing address, campaign telephone number, e-mail
31 address, or web address may be filed with the chief election
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1 officer no later than 21 days before the general election. The
2 chief election officer must post these changes to the on-line
3 voter information guide within 24 hours after receipt of the
4 amended information, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
5 holidays.
6 (g) The chief election officer must remove a
7 candidate's information from the on-line voter information
8 guide within 72 hours after the candidate withdraws his or her
9 candidacy, becomes an unopposed candidate, or is eliminated as
10 a candidate, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
11 (h) The following statement must be printed at the
12 bottom of each page where candidates' statements appear:
13 "Statements printed on this page are exclusively those of the
14 candidates, and have not been checked for accuracy by any
15 government agency."
16 (3)(a) If the chief election officer finds that any
17 photograph fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(e)
18 or that any candidate's statement offered for filing:
19 1. Contains any obscene, vulgar, profane, libelous, or
20 defamatory language or matter,
21 2. Incites or advocates hatred, abuse, or violence
22 toward any person or group, or
23 3. Otherwise fails to meet the requirements of this
24 section,
25
26 the chief election officer must reject the photograph or
27 statement and notify the candidate within 5 days after the
28 filing. The notification must identify the specific language
29 or material objected to and the reasons for the objection.
30 Until 21 days before the general election, the candidate may
31 file a different photograph or statement with the chief
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1 election officer or may challenge the chief election officer's
2 finding by filing a suit or action in the circuit court in
3 Leon County to compel inclusion of the photograph or statement
4 in the voter information guide.
5 (b) If the candidate files a different photograph or
6 candidate statement that is not prohibited under paragraph
7 (a), the chief election officer must include the new
8 photograph or statement in the voter information guide within
9 5 days after the filing. In determining whether the different
10 photograph or statement is prohibited, the chief election
11 officer may not raise an objection to any language or matter
12 included in the original photograph or statement which was not
13 the subject of a prior objection. If, however, the chief
14 election officer finds that the new photograph or statement is
15 prohibited, the chief election officer must reject it and
16 notify the candidate within 5 days after the filing pursuant
17 to paragraph (a). Following receipt of the notice, the
18 candidate may take action as provided in paragraph (a).
19 (c) If the candidate files a judicial action to compel
20 inclusion of the photograph or candidate statement and the
21 court rules in favor of the candidate, the chief election
22 officer shall include the photograph or statement on-line
23 within 24 hours after the execution of the court order,
24 excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. If the court rules
25 for the chief election officer, the candidate has until 21
26 days before the general election to file a different
27 photograph or statement. The chief election officer shall
28 determine whether the new photograph or statement meets the
29 requirements of this section for inclusion in the voter
30 information guide and, if so, make the information available
31 on-line within 5 days after the filing. In making this
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1 determination, the chief election officer may not raise an
2 objection to any language or matter included in the original
3 photograph or statement which was not the subject of a prior
4 objection. If, however, the chief election officer finds that
5 the new photograph or statement is prohibited, the chief
6 election officer must reject it and notify the candidate
7 within 5 days after the filing pursuant to paragraph (a).
8 Following receipt of the notice, the candidate may take action
9 as provided in paragraph (a). If the court rules against the
10 candidate within 21 days preceding the general election, the
11 phrase "Not Available" must be used in the voter information
12 guide through the general election in lieu of the information.
13 (4) This section does not require the chief election
14 officer to modify any nonelectronic version of the voter
15 information guide previously published.
16 (5) Administrative rules may be adopted to administer
17 the provisions of this section.
18 Section 4. Florida voter information guide; judicial
19 candidates.--
20 (1) As used in this section, the term "judicial
21 candidate" means any person as defined in section 97.021,
22 Florida Statutes, seeking election or retention to the office
23 of:
24 (a) Justice of the Supreme Court.
25 (b) Judge of a district court of appeal.
26 (c) Judge of a circuit court.
27 (2)(a) The voter information guide must include a
28 written candidate's statement for each judicial candidate in
29 resume format containing the following headings:
30 1. Name;
31 2. Campaign Address and Telephone Number;
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1 3. Date of Admission to The Florida Bar;
2 4. Education;
3 5. Professional Legal Background;
4 6. Judicial Background;
5 7. Professional Activities/Associations/Affiliations;
6 8. Educational/Professional Honors and Awards;
7 9. Professional Teaching/Educational Activities; and
8 10. Community Activities.
9
10 In addition, the voter information guide must include the
11 office sought and an unretouched photograph of the judicial
12 candidate taken within 2 years before submission to the chief
13 election officer.
14 (b) Within 3 business days after a judicial candidate
15 files the appointment of a campaign treasurer and designation
16 of campaign depository with the Department of State, the chief
17 election officer shall include on-line the name of the
18 judicial candidate and office sought. The chief election
19 officer must, within 5 business days after the judicial
20 candidate has filed the information, either make available
21 on-line the remaining information required in paragraph (a) or
22 reject all or a part of the information and provide notice
23 pursuant to subsection (3). Until the chief election officer
24 has received information meeting the requirements of this
25 section or during the pendency of a judicial action pursuant
26 to subsection (3), the chief election officer shall use the
27 phrase "Not Available" in the voter information guide in lieu
28 of the missing or defective item of information.
29 (c) No later than 21 days before the first primary
30 election, each judicial candidate may file with the chief
31 election officer a photograph and written candidate's
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1 statement that is in resume format and that meets the
2 requirements of paragraph (a).
3 (d) Each judicial candidate's statement submitted
4 pursuant to this section:
5 1. Must not exceed 500 words, excluding section
6 headings;
7 2. Must not contain any direct or indirect reference
8 to an opposing judicial candidate;
9 3. May not include the name of any person or
10 organization cited as supporting or endorsing the judicial
11 candidate or any part of the statement, unless at the time of
12 filing the statement the judicial candidate files a sworn,
13 written oath or affirmation by the person, or by an authorized
14 person on behalf of an organization, consenting to the use of
15 the name of the person or organization for that purpose;
16 4. Must include the information required in
17 subparagraphs (a)1. through (a)5.; and
18 5. Must consist only of words, numbers, and
19 punctuation marks.
20 (e) Each judicial candidate's photograph submitted
21 pursuant to this section:
22 1. Must have been taken within 2 years before the date
23 of filing;
24 2. Must be a conventional photograph that has a plain
25 background;
26 3. Must show only the face or the head, neck, and
27 shoulders of the judicial candidate;
28 4. Must be unretouched, with no alteration or
29 manipulation of the judicial candidate's likeness or image
30 after the taking of the photograph;
31
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1 5. Must not include the hands or anything held in the
2 hands of the judicial candidate;
3 6. Must not show the judicial candidate wearing a
4 judicial robe, a hat, or a military, police, or fraternal
5 uniform; and
6 7. Must not show the uniform or insignia of any
7 organization.
8 (f) If a judicial candidate does not timely submit
9 information meeting the requirements of this section for any
10 specific heading identified in subparagraphs (a)5. through
11 (a)9., that heading must be omitted from the judicial
12 candidate's statement in the voter information guide. If the
13 judicial candidate does not timely submit a photograph meeting
14 the requirements of this section, the chief election officer
15 shall use the phrase "Not Available" in lieu of the missing or
16 defective photograph.
17 (g) To the extent that there is a conflict between the
18 requirements in this section and the Code of Judicial Conduct,
19 the Code of Judicial Conduct controls.
20 (h) Once a photograph or judicial candidate's
21 statement has been filed with the chief election officer, it
22 may be withdrawn by the judicial candidate only by written
23 request prior to publication. Except for the judicial
24 candidate's name, campaign address, or telephone number, the
25 judicial candidate may not amend or modify the photograph or
26 judicial candidate's statement except as provided in
27 subsection (3). Changes to the judicial candidate's name,
28 campaign address, or telephone number may be filed with the
29 chief election officer no later than 21 days before the
30 general election. The chief election officer must post these
31 changes to the on-line voter information guide within 24 hours
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1 after receipt of the amended information, excluding Saturdays,
2 Sundays, and holidays.
3 (i) For circuit court election contests, the chief
4 election officer must remove a judicial candidate's
5 information from the on-line voter information guide within 72
6 hours after the judicial candidate withdraws his or her
7 candidacy, becomes an unopposed candidate, or is eliminated as
8 a candidate, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
9 (j) The following statement must be printed at the
10 bottom of each page where judicial candidates' statements
11 appear: "Statements printed on this page are exclusively those
12 of the judicial candidates, and have not been checked for
13 accuracy by any government agency."
14 (3)(a) If the chief election officer finds that any
15 photograph fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(e)
16 or that any judicial candidate's statement offered for filing:
17 1. Contains any obscene, vulgar, profane, libelous, or
18 defamatory language or matter,
19 2. Incites or advocates hatred, abuse, or violence
20 toward any person or group, or
21 3. Otherwise fails to meet the requirements of this
22 section,
23
24 the chief election officer must reject it and notify the
25 judicial candidate within 5 days after the filing. The
26 notification must identify the specific language or material
27 objected to, and the reasons for the objection. No later than
28 21 days before the first primary election, the judicial
29 candidate may file a different photograph or statement with
30 the chief election officer or may challenge the chief election
31 officer's finding by filing a suit or action in the circuit
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1 court in Leon County to compel inclusion of the photograph or
2 statement in the voter information guide.
3 (b) If the judicial candidate files a different
4 photograph or judicial candidate's statement that is not
5 prohibited under paragraph (a), the chief election officer
6 must include the new photograph or statement in the voter
7 information guide within 5 days after the filing. In
8 determining whether the different photograph or judicial
9 candidate's statement is prohibited, the chief election
10 officer may not raise an objection to any language or matter
11 included in the original photograph or statement which was not
12 the subject of a prior objection. If, however, the chief
13 election officer finds that the new photograph or statement is
14 prohibited, the chief election officer must reject it and
15 notify the judicial candidate within 5 days after the filing
16 pursuant to paragraph (a). Following receipt of the notice,
17 the judicial candidate may take action as provided in
18 paragraph (a).
19 (c) If the judicial candidate files a judicial action
20 to compel inclusion of the photograph or judicial candidate's
21 statement and the court rules in favor of the judicial
22 candidate, the chief election officer shall include the
23 photograph or statement on-line within 24 hours after the
24 execution of the court order, excluding Saturdays, Sundays,
25 and holidays. If the court rules for the chief election
26 officer, the judicial candidate has until 21 days before the
27 primary election to file a different photograph or statement.
28 The chief election officer shall determine whether the new
29 photograph or statement meets the requirements of this section
30 for inclusion in the voter information guide and, if so, make
31 the information available on-line within 5 days after the
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1 filing. In making this determination, the chief election
2 officer may not raise an objection to any language or matter
3 included in the original photograph or statement which was not
4 the subject of a prior objection. If, however, the chief
5 election officer finds that the new photograph or statement is
6 prohibited, the chief election officer must reject it and
7 notify the judicial candidate within 5 days after the filing
8 pursuant to paragraph (a). Following receipt of the notice,
9 the judicial candidate may take action as provided in
10 paragraph (a). If the court rules against the judicial
11 candidate later than 21 days preceding the primary election,
12 the phrase "Not Available" must be used in the voter
13 information guide through the general election in lieu of the
14 defective information.
15 (4) Nothing in this section requires the chief
16 election officer to modify any nonelectronic version of the
17 voter information guide previously published.
18 (5) Administrative rules may be adopted to administer
19 the provisions of this section.
20 Section 5. Florida voter information guide;
21 constitutional amendments.--
22 (1)(a) The voter information guide must include the
23 following information for each constitutional amendment which
24 will be voted on by the electors:
25 1. The identification of the measure by number
26 designation as provided in section 101.161, Florida Statutes;
27 2. The ballot title and substance of the amendment as
28 provided by section 101.161, Florida Statutes;
29 3. For amendments proposed by the Legislature, the
30 number of votes cast for and against the joint resolution in
31 both the Senate and the House of Representatives;
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1 4. A concise summary of the general meaning and effect
2 of "yes" and "no" votes on each measure, pursuant to
3 subsection (2);
4 5. The full text of the amendment;
5 6. An argument in favor of the measure; and
6 7. An argument in opposition to the measure.
7 (b) No later than 75 days before the date on which the
8 constitutional amendment will be voted on, the chief election
9 officer shall include on-line the information in subparagraphs
10 (a)1. through (a)5. The chief election officer must, within 5
11 business days after the information has been filed or on the
12 75th day before the election, whichever occurs later, make
13 available on-line the highest ranking argument in favor of the
14 measure and the highest ranking argument in opposition to the
15 measure or reject the information submitted and provide notice
16 pursuant to subsection (6). Until the chief election officer
17 has received information meeting the requirements of this
18 section or during the pendency of a judicial action pursuant
19 to subsection (6), the chief election officer must use the
20 phrase "Not Available" in the voter information guide in lieu
21 of the missing or defective argument.
22 (c) Once an argument has been filed with the chief
23 election officer, it may be withdrawn only by written request
24 of the author submitted prior to publication. Other than the
25 name and mailing address of the author, it may not be amended
26 or modified except as provided in subsection (6). Changes to
27 the name or mailing address of the individual or group
28 proposing the argument may be filed with the chief election
29 officer no later than 21 days before the date on which the
30 amendment will be voted on. The chief election officer must
31 post these changes to the on-line voter information guide
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1 within 24 hours after receipt of the amended information,
2 excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
3 (d) The following statement must be printed at the
4 bottom of each page where arguments appear: "Arguments printed
5 on this page are the opinions of the authors, and have not
6 been checked for accuracy by any government agency."
7 (2) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
8 Government Accountability shall prepare an objective analysis,
9 including a fiscal impact section, describing each
10 constitutional amendment that will be voted on by the
11 electors. The analysis must contain clear, simple language and
12 avoid the use of technical terms wherever possible so as to be
13 easily understood by the average voter. The analysis must be
14 filed with the chief election officer no later than 80 days
15 before the date on which the amendment will be voted on. The
16 Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall assist the
17 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
18 Accountability in preparing the analysis, upon request.
19 (3)(a) Whenever the Legislature submits an amendment
20 to the voters, the prime sponsor of the resolution and one
21 other person appointed by the sponsor may draft the argument
22 in favor of the amendment, or the sponsor may appoint no more
23 than two persons to draft the argument. The argument may be
24 filed no later than 35 days before the date on which the
25 amendment will be voted on.
26 (b) If the joint resolution by the Legislature was not
27 adopted unanimously, one member of each house who voted
28 against it will be appointed by the presiding officer of each
29 respective house to draft the argument against the amendment.
30 If one house adopts the joint resolution unanimously but the
31 other does not, the presiding officer of the house with
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1 objecting members will appoint two members who voted against
2 the joint resolution to draft the argument against the
3 amendment. Alternatively, if only one member of the
4 Legislature voted against the joint resolution, that member
5 and one other person appointed by that member may draft the
6 argument against the amendment, or that member may appoint no
7 more than two persons to draft the argument. The argument may
8 be filed with the chief election officer no later than 35 days
9 before the date on which the amendment will be voted on.
10 (c) If the joint resolution was adopted unanimously by
11 the Legislature or if an argument for or against an amendment
12 submitted to the voters by the Legislature has not been filed
13 by a member of the Legislature or his or her designee by the
14 deadline, the chief election officer must immediately issue a
15 general press release soliciting arguments from interested
16 groups and persons. The press release must consist of an
17 announcement containing:
18 1. The full text of the joint resolution;
19 2. A summary of the essential nature or purpose of the
20 measure for or against which no argument has been filed;
21 3. A statement that the affirmative or negative
22 arguments, or both, have not been filed;
23 4. An invitation to any voter or group of voters to
24 submit and file with the chief election officer, within 14
25 days, arguments for or against the measure as to which
26 affirmative or negative arguments have not been filed; and
27 5. A description of the process for ranking the
28 arguments filed.
29
30 Fourteen days after issuing the press release, the chief
31 election officer must rank the arguments received based on
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1 authorship, with the highest ranking going to arguments
2 submitted by political committees organized under section
3 106.03, Florida Statutes, followed by bona fide associations
4 of Florida residents, and last by Florida registered voters.
5 The highest-ranked argument meeting the requirements of this
6 section must be included in the voter information guide. If
7 the arguments of two or more committees, associations, or
8 voters have the same ranking, the chief election officer will
9 randomly determine which argument will be included. Persons
10 and groups submitting arguments under this paragraph may not
11 file a suit or action in any state court to compel inclusion
12 of the argument in the voter information guide. This paragraph
13 does not preclude two or more political committees,
14 associations, or registered voters from jointly submitting an
15 argument.
16 (4)(a) If an amendment to be placed before the voters
17 is proposed by initiative, the constitutional revision
18 commission, the taxation and budget reform commission, or a
19 constitutional convention, the chair of the group proposing
20 the amendment must appoint a committee of no more than two
21 persons to draft an argument in favor of the amendment. The
22 argument must be filed with the chief election officer no
23 later than 35 days before the date on which the amendment will
24 be voted on.
25 (b) Any group or voter who wishes to draft an argument
26 against an amendment proposed by initiative, the
27 constitutional revision commission, the taxation and budget
28 reform commission, or a constitutional convention may do so.
29 The argument must be filed with the chief election officer no
30 later than 60 days before the date on which the amendment will
31 be voted on. The chief election officer must rank the
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1 arguments received by the deadline based on authorship, with
2 the highest ranking going to arguments submitted by political
3 committees organized under section 106.03, Florida Statutes,
4 to oppose the amendment, followed by bona fide associations of
5 Florida residents, and last, by Florida registered voters.
6 Subject to the procedures in subsection (6), the highest
7 ranked argument meeting the requirements of this section must
8 be included in the voter information guide. If the arguments
9 of two or more committees, associations, or voters have the
10 same ranking, the chief election officer must determine at
11 random which argument will be included. This paragraph does
12 not preclude two or more political committees, associations,
13 or registered voters from jointly submitting an argument.
14 (5) Each argument submitted pursuant to this section:
15 1. Must identify the name and mailing address of the
16 person or group drafting the argument;
17 2. Must consist only of words, numbers, and
18 punctuation marks;
19 3. Must not exceed 500 words in length, excluding the
20 name, title, and mailing address of the persons drafting the
21 argument; and
22 4. Must not contain the name of any person or
23 organization, other than the author or the author's
24 organization, cited as supporting or endorsing the argument or
25 any part of the argument, unless by the deadline for filing
26 arguments the chief election officer also receives a sworn,
27 written oath or affirmation by the person, or by an authorized
28 person on behalf of an organization, consenting to the use of
29 the name of the person or organization for the prescribed
30 purpose.
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1 (6)(a) If the chief election officer finds that the
2 highest ranked argument filed pursuant to subsection (3) or
3 (4):
4 1. Contains any obscene, vulgar, profane, libelous, or
5 defamatory language or matter,
6 2. Incites or advocates hatred, abuse, or violence
7 toward any person or group, or
8 3. Otherwise fails to meet the requirements of this
9 section,
10
11 the chief election officer must reject it and notify the
12 persons submitting the argument within 5 days after the
13 filing. The notification must identify the specific language
14 or material objected to and the reasons for the objection. No
15 later than 21 days before the election, the person submitting
16 the argument may file a different argument with the chief
17 election officer or may challenge the chief election officer's
18 determination by filing a suit or action in the circuit court
19 in Leon County to compel inclusion of the argument in the
20 voter information guide.
21 (b) If the author files a different argument that is
22 not prohibited under paragraph (a), the chief election officer
23 must include the new argument in the voter information guide
24 within 5 days after the filing. In determining whether the
25 different argument is prohibited, the chief election officer
26 may not raise an objection to any language or matter included
27 in the original argument which was not the subject of a prior
28 objection. If, however, the chief election officer finds that
29 the new argument is prohibited, the chief election officer
30 must reject it and the argument having the next highest
31
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1 ranking which meets the requirements of this section must be
2 included in the voter information guide.
3 (c) If the person filing the argument files a judicial
4 action to compel inclusion of the argument and the court rules
5 in favor of the person filing the argument, the chief election
6 officer shall include the argument on-line within 24 hours
7 after the execution of the court order. If the court rules for
8 the chief election officer, the person has until 21 days
9 before the election to file a different argument. The chief
10 election officer shall determine whether the new argument
11 meets the requirements of this section for inclusion in the
12 voter information guide and, if so, make the argument
13 available on-line within 5 days after the filing. In making
14 this determination, the chief election officer may not raise
15 an objection to any language or matter included in the
16 original argument which was not the subject of a prior
17 objection. If the person fails to file a different argument or
18 if the chief election officer finds that the new argument is
19 prohibited by paragraph (a), the new argument must be
20 rejected, and the argument having the next highest ranking
21 which meets the requirements of this section must be included
22 in the voter information guide.
23 (7) Nothing in this section requires the chief
24 election officer to incorporate changes or include an argument
25 in any nonelectronic version of the voter information guide
26 previously published.
27 (8) Administrative rules may be adopted to administer
28 the provisions of this section.
29 Section 6. The sum of $100,000 is appropriated to the
30 Department of State from the General Revenue Fund for the
31 purpose of implementing the provisions of this act.
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1 Section 7. This act shall take effect January 1, 2001.
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4 SENATE SUMMARY
5 Provides procedures for and prescribes the content of a
Florida Voter Information Guide that is to be made
6 available or published by the chief election officer
before certain elections and that will provide voters
7 with information concerning candidates and issues to be
voted on. Provides an appropriation.
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