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A bill to be entitled |
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An act relating to voting absentee ballots in person; |
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amending s. 101.657, F.S.; authorizing the use of certain |
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buildings as branch offices for purposes of voting |
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absentee ballots in person; providing for early voting by |
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absentee ballot in person in the main office or branch |
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offices of the supervisor of elections; providing |
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rulemaking authority; providing an effective date. |
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 101.657, Florida |
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Statutes, is amended to read: |
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101.657 Voting absentee ballots in person.-- |
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(2)(a)As an alternative to the provisions of ss. 101.64 |
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and 101.65, the supervisor of elections may allow an elector to |
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cast an absentee ballot in the mainofficeoranybranch office |
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of the supervisor by depositing the voted ballot in a voting |
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device used by the supervisor to collect or tabulate ballots. |
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For purposes of this section, a branch office may include a |
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single building or complex of buildings whose residents are |
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members of a condominium or homeowners' association comprised of |
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at least 1,000 registered voters. |
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(b) Voting by absentee ballot at the main office or any |
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branch office, as determined by the supervisor, shall commence |
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14 days prior to an election. However,the results or tabulation |
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may not be made before the close of the polls on election day. |
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(c)(a)The elector must provide picture identification and |
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must complete an In-Office Voter Certificate in substantially |
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the following form: |
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IN-OFFICE VOTER CERTIFICATE |
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I, _____, am a qualified elector in this election and registered |
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voter of _____ County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm |
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that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls |
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of _____ County and that I reside at the listed address. I |
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understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in |
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connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more |
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than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the |
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third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up |
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to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this |
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certificate and have my signature witnessed invalidates my |
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ballot. |
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... (Voter's Signature) ... |
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... (Address) ... |
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... (City/State) ... |
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... (Name of Witness) ... |
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... (Signature of Witness) ... |
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... (Type of identification provided) ... |
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(d)(b)Any elector may challenge an elector seeking to |
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cast an absentee ballot under the provisions of s. 101.111. Any |
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challenged ballot must be placed in a regular absentee ballot |
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envelope. The canvassing board shall review the ballot and |
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decide the validity of the ballot by majority vote. |
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(e)(c)The canvass of returns for ballots cast under this |
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subsection shall be substantially the same as votes cast by |
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electors in precincts, as provided in s. 101.5614. |
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(f) The Department of State shall adopt rules pursuant to |
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ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this |
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subsection, including, at a minimum, provisions for the |
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selection and security of the main office or branch offices, and |
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their respective polling places, for the purposes of this |
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subsection. |
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Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2004. |
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