HB 0059B 2003
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to primary elections; repealing s.
3    100.091, F.S.; eliminating the second primary election;
4    repealing s. 100.096, F.S., relating to the holding of
5    special elections in conjunction with the second primary
6    election, to conform; amending s. 97.021, F.S., relating
7    to the definition of "primary election," to conform;
8    amending ss. 97.055, 97.071, 97.1031, and 98.081, F.S.,
9    relating to restrictions on changing party affiliation
10    between primary elections, to conform; amending ss.
11    99.061 and 99.095, F.S., relating to qualifying for
12    nomination or election to office, to conform; amending s.
13    99.063, F.S.; adjusting the date to designate a
14    Lieutenant Governor running mate, to conform; amending
15    ss. 99.103, 100.081, 100.111, 100.141, 101.252, 101.62,
16    102.041, 103.021, 103.022, 103.091, 105.031, 105.041,
17    105.051, 106.07, 106.08, and 106.29, F.S.; revising
18    references, to conform to the elimination of the second
19    primary election; amending s. 100.061, F.S.; establishing
20    a ranked-choice or "instant runoff" voting process for
21    the primary election; amending s. 101.151, F.S.;
22    modifying the primary election ballot, to conform;
23    amending s. 101.5606, F.S.; modifying certification
24    requirements for voting systems; requiring previously
25    certified voting systems to meet new certification
26    requirements by a date certain; providing for
27    construction of the act in pari materia with laws enacted
28    during the 2003 Regular Session or the 2003 Special
29    Session A of the Legislature; providing an effective
30    date.
31         
32          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
33         
34          Section 1. Sections 100.091 and 100.096, Florida Statutes,
35    are repealed.
36          Section 2. Subsection (25) of section 97.021, Florida
37    Statutes, is amended to read:
38          97.021 Definitions.--For the purposes of this code, except
39    where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
40          (25) "Primary election" means an election held preceding
41    the general election for the purpose of nominating a party
42    nominee to be voted for in the general election to fill a
43    national, state, county, or district office. The first primary
44    is a nomination or elimination election; the second primary is a
45    nominating election only.
46          Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 97.055, Florida
47    Statutes, is amended to read:
48          97.055 Registration books; when closed for an election.--
49          (1) The registration books must be closed on the 29th day
50    before each election and must remain closed until after that
51    election. If an election is called and there are fewer than 29
52    days before that election, the registration books must be closed
53    immediately. When the registration books are closed for an
54    election, voter registration and party changes must be accepted
55    but only for the purpose of subsequent elections. However, party
56    changes received between the book-closing date of the first
57    primary election and the date of the second primary election are
58    not effective until after the second primary election.
59          Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 97.071, Florida
60    Statutes, is amended to read:
61          97.071 Registration identification card.--
62          (3) In the case of a change of name, address, or party
63    affiliation, the supervisor must issue the voter a new
64    registration identification card. However, a registration
65    identification card indicating a party affiliation change made
66    between the book-closing date for the first primary election and
67    the date of the second primary election may not be issued until
68    after the second primary election.
69          Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 97.1031, Florida
70    Statutes, is amended to read:
71          97.1031 Notice of change of residence within the same
72    county, change of name, or change of party.--
73          (3) When an elector seeks to change party affiliation, the
74    elector must provide a signed, written notification of such
75    intent to the supervisor and obtain a registration
76    identification card reflecting the new party affiliation,
77    subject to the issuance restriction in s. 97.071(3).
78          Section 6. Section 98.081, Florida Statutes, is amended to
79    read:
80          98.081 Names removed from registration books; restrictions
81    on reregistering; recordkeeping; restoration of erroneously or
82    illegally removed names.--
83          (1) Any person who requested that his or her name be
84    removed from the registration books between the book-closing
85    date of the first primary and the date of the second primary may
86    not register in a different political party until after the date
87    of the second primary election.
88          (1)(2)When the name of any elector is removed from the
89    registration books pursuant to s. 98.065, s. 98.075, or s.
90    98.093, the elector's original registration form shall be filed
91    alphabetically in the office of the supervisor. As alternatives,
92    registrations removed from the registration books may be
93    microfilmed and such microfilms substituted for the original
94    registration forms; or, when voter registration information,
95    including the voter's signature, is maintained digitally or on
96    electronic, magnetic, or optic media, such stored information
97    may be substituted for the original registration form. Such
98    microfilms or stored information shall be retained in the
99    custody of the supervisor. In the event the original
100    registration forms are microfilmed or maintained digitally or on
101    electronic or other media, such originals may be destroyed in
102    accordance with the schedule approved by the Bureau of Archives
103    and Records Management of the Division of Library and
104    Information Services of the department.
105          (2)(3)When the name of any elector has been erroneously
106    or illegally removed from the registration books, the name of
107    the elector shall be restored by the supervisor upon
108    satisfactory proof, even though the registration period for that
109    election is closed.
110          Section 7. Subsections (1), (2), and (8) of section
111    99.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
112          99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
113    federal, state, county, or district office.--
114          (1) The provisions of any special act to the contrary
115    notwithstanding, each person seeking to qualify for nomination
116    or election to a federal, state, or multicounty district office,
117    other than election to a judicial office as defined in chapter
118    105 or the office of school board member, shall file his or her
119    qualification papers with, and pay the qualifying fee, which
120    shall consist of the filing fee and election assessment, and
121    party assessment, if any has been levied, to, the Department of
122    State, or qualify by the alternative method with the Department
123    of State, at any time after noon of the 1st day for qualifying,
124    which shall be as follows: the 120th day prior to the first
125    primary election, but not later than noon of the 116th day prior
126    to the date of the first primary election, for persons seeking
127    to qualify for nomination or election to federal office; and
128    noon of the 50th day prior to the first primary election, but
129    not later than noon of the 46th day prior to the date of the
130    first primary election, for persons seeking to qualify for
131    nomination or election to a state or multicounty district
132    office.
133          (2) The provisions of any special act to the contrary
134    notwithstanding, each person seeking to qualify for nomination
135    or election to a county office, or district or special district
136    office not covered by subsection (1), shall file his or her
137    qualification papers with, and pay the qualifying fee, which
138    shall consist of the filing fee and election assessment, and
139    party assessment, if any has been levied, to, the supervisor of
140    elections of the county, or shall qualify by the alternative
141    method with the supervisor of elections, at any time after noon
142    of the 1st day for qualifying, which shall be the 50th day prior
143    to the first primary electionor special district election, but
144    not later than noon of the 46th day prior to the date of the
145    first primary electionor special district election. However, if
146    a special district election is held at the same time as the
147    second primary orgeneral election, qualifying shall be the 50th
148    day prior to the first primary election, but not later than noon
149    of the 46th day prior to the date of the first primary election.
150    Within 30 days after the closing of qualifying time, the
151    supervisor of elections shall remit to the secretary of the
152    state executive committee of the political party to which the
153    candidate belongs the amount of the filing fee, two-thirds of
154    which shall be used to promote the candidacy of candidates for
155    county offices and the candidacy of members of the Legislature.
156          (8) Notwithstanding the qualifying period prescribed by
157    this section, in each year in which the Legislature apportions
158    the state, the qualifying period for persons seeking to qualify
159    for nomination or election to federal office shall be between
160    noon of the 57th day prior to the first primary election, but
161    not later than noon of the 53rd day prior to the first primary
162    election.
163          Section 8. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
164    99.063, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
165          99.063 Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.--
166          (1) No later than 5 p.m. of the 9th day following the
167    secondprimary election, each candidate for Governor shall
168    designate a Lieutenant Governor as a running mate. Such
169    designation must be made in writing to the Department of State.
170          (2) No later than 5 p.m. of the 9th day following the
171    secondprimary election, each designated candidate for
172    Lieutenant Governor shall file with the Department of State:
173          (a) The candidate's oath required by s. 99.021, which must
174    contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
175    ballot; the office sought; and the signature of the candidate,
176    duly acknowledged.
177          (b) The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
178    candidate and duly acknowledged.
179          (c) If the office sought is partisan, the written
180    statement of political party affiliation required by s.
181    99.021(1)(b).
182          (d) The full and public disclosure of financial interests
183    pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution.
184          (4) In order to have the name of the candidate for
185    Lieutenant Governor printed on the first or secondprimary
186    election ballot, a candidate for Governor participating in the
187    primary must designate the candidate for Lieutenant Governor,
188    and the designated candidate must qualify no later than the end
189    of the qualifying period specified in s. 99.061. If the
190    candidate for Lieutenant Governor has not been designated and
191    has not qualified by the end of the qualifying period specified
192    in s. 99.061, the phrase "Not Yet Designated" must be included
193    in lieu of the candidate's name on the primary election ballot
194    ballots and on advance absentee ballots for the general
195    election.
196          Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 99.095, Florida
197    Statutes, is amended to read:
198          99.095 Alternative method of qualifying.--
199          (1) A person seeking to qualify for nomination to any
200    office may qualify to have his or her name placed on the ballot
201    for the firstprimary election by means of the petitioning
202    process prescribed in this section. A person qualifying by this
203    alternative method shall not be required to pay the qualifying
204    fee or party assessment required by this chapter. A person using
205    this petitioning process shall file an oath with the officer
206    before whom the candidate would qualify for the office stating
207    that he or she intends to qualify by this alternative method for
208    the office sought. If the person is running for an office which
209    will be grouped on the ballot with two or more similar offices
210    to be filled at the same election, the candidate must indicate
211    in his or her oath for which group or district office he or she
212    is running. The oath shall be filed at any time after the first
213    Tuesday after the first Monday in January of the year in which
214    the first primary electionis held, but prior to the 21st day
215    preceding the first day of the qualifying period for the office
216    sought. The Department of State shall prescribe the form to be
217    used in administering and filing such oath. No signatures shall
218    be obtained by a candidate on any nominating petition until the
219    candidate has filed the oath required in this section. If the
220    person is running for an office which will be grouped on the
221    ballot with two or more similar offices to be filled at the same
222    election and the petition does not indicate the group or
223    district office for which the person is running, the signatures
224    obtained on such petition will not be counted.
225          Section 10. Section 99.103, Florida Statutes, is amended
226    to read:
227          99.103 Department of State to remit part of filing fees
228    and party assessments of candidates to state executive
229    committee.--
230          (1) If more than three-fourths of the full authorized
231    membership of the state executive committee of any party was
232    elected at the last previous election for such members and if
233    such party is declared by the Department of State to have
234    recorded on the registration books of the counties, as of the
235    first Tuesday after the first Monday in January prior to the
236    first primary electionin general election years, 5 percent of
237    the total registration of such counties when added together,
238    such committee shall receive, for the purpose of meeting its
239    expenses, all filing fees collected by the Department of State
240    from its candidates less an amount equal to 15 percent of the
241    filing fees, which amount the Department of State shall deposit
242    in the General Revenue Fund of the state.
243          (2) Not later than 20 days after the close of qualifying
244    in even-numbered years, the Department of State shall remit 95
245    percent of all filing fees, less the amount deposited in general
246    revenue pursuant to subsection (1), or party assessments that
247    may have been collected by the department to the respective
248    state executive committees of the parties complying with
249    subsection(1). Party assessments collected by the Department of
250    State shall be remitted to the appropriate state executive
251    committee, irrespective of other requirements of this section,
252    provided such committee is duly organized under the provisions
253    of chapter 103. The remainder of filing fees or party
254    assessments collected by the Department of State shall be
255    remitted to the appropriate state executive committees not later
256    than the date of the first primary election.
257          Section 11. Section 100.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
258    to read:
259          100.061 First primary election.--
260          (1)In each year in which a general election is held, a
261    first primary election for nomination of candidates of political
262    parties shall be held on the Tuesday 9 weeks prior to the
263    general election using a ranked-choice or "instant runoff"
264    ballot prepared pursuant to s. 101.151. Each candidate receiving
265    a majority of the votes cast in each contest in the first
266    primary election shall be declared nominated for such office. A
267    second primary election shall be held as provided by s. 100.091
268    in every contest in which a candidate does not receive a
269    majority.
270          (2) For purposes of this section:
271          (a) A candidate shall be deemed "continuing" if the
272    candidate has not been eliminated.
273          (b) A ballot shall be deemed "continuing" if it is not
274    exhausted.
275          (c) A ballot shall be deemed "exhausted," and not counted
276    in further stages of the tabulation, if all the choices have
277    been eliminated or if there are no more choices indicated on the
278    ballot.
279          (d) If a ranked-choice ballot gives equal weight to two or
280    more candidates, the ballot shall be deemed "exhausted" when
281    such multiple rankings are reached.
282          (e) If a voter casts a ranked-choice ballot but skips one
283    or more ranks, the voter's vote shall be transferred to that
284    voter's next ranked choice.
285          (3) If a candidate receives a majority of the first
286    choices, that candidate shall be nominated. If no candidate
287    receives a majority, the candidate who received the fewest first
288    choices shall be eliminated and each vote cast for that
289    candidate shall be transferred to the next-ranked candidate on
290    that voter's ballot. If, after this transfer of votes, any
291    candidate has a majority of the votes from the continuing
292    ballots, that candidate shall be declared nominated.
293          (4) If no candidate receives a majority of votes from the
294    continuing ballots after a candidate has been eliminated and his
295    or her votes have been transferred to the next-ranked candidate,
296    the continuing candidate with the fewest votes from the
297    continuing ballots shall be eliminated. All votes cast for that
298    candidate shall be transferred to the next-ranked continuing
299    candidate on each voter's ballot. This process of eliminating
300    candidates and transferring their votes to the next-ranked
301    continuing candidates shall be repeated until a candidate
302    receives a majority of the votes from the continuing ballots or
303    until there are only two candidates that have not been
304    eliminated, at which point the candidate with the most votes
305    shall be nominated.
306          (5) To facilitate ballot counting in each round, if the
307    total number of votes of the two or more candidates credited
308    with the lowest number of votes is less than the number of votes
309    credited to the candidate with the next highest number of votes,
310    those candidates with the lowest number of votes shall be
311    eliminated simultaneously and their votes transferred to the
312    next-ranked continuing candidate on each ballot in a single
313    counting operation.
314          (6) If the final two continuing candidates receive an
315    equal number of votes for the same office, such candidates shall
316    draw lots to determine which candidate is nominated.
317          (7) The Division of Elections and the supervisors of
318    elections shall make ranked-choice or "instant runoff" voting a
319    component of their voter education programs.
320          Section 12. Section 100.081, Florida Statutes, is amended
321    to read:
322          100.081 Conducting primary elections;Nomination of county
323    commissioners at primary election.--The primary election
324    electionsshall provide for the nomination of county
325    commissioners by the qualified electors of such county at the
326    time and place set for voting on other county officers.
327          Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), subsection
328    (3), and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 100.111,
329    Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
330          100.111 Filling vacancy.--
331          (1)
332          (c) If such a vacancy occurs prior to the first primary
333    electionbut on or after the first day set by law for
334    qualifying, the Secretary of State shall set dates for
335    qualifying for the unexpired portion of the term of such office.
336    Any person seeking nomination or election to the unexpired
337    portion of the term shall qualify within the time set by the
338    Secretary of State. If time does not permit party nominations to
339    be made in conjunction with the first and second primary
340    electionelections, the Governor may call a special primary
341    election, and, if necessary, a second special primary election,
342    to select party nominees for the unexpired portion of such term.
343          (3) Whenever there is a vacancy for which a special
344    election is required pursuant to s. 100.101(1)-(4), the
345    Governor, after consultation with the Secretary of State, shall
346    fix the datesdate of a special first primary election, a
347    special second primary election,and a special election.
348    Nominees of political parties other than minor political parties
349    shall be chosen under the primary laws of this state in the
350    special primary electionelectionsto become candidates in the
351    special election. Prior to setting the special election dates,
352    the Governor shall consider any upcoming elections in the
353    jurisdiction where the special election will be held. The dates
354    fixed by the Governor shall be specific days certain and shall
355    not be established by the happening of a condition or stated in
356    the alternative. The dates fixed shall provide a minimum of 2
357    weeks between each election. In the event a vacancy occurs in
358    the office of state senator or member of the House of
359    Representatives when the Legislature is in regular legislative
360    session, the minimum times prescribed by this subsection may be
361    waived upon concurrence of the Governor, the Speaker of the
362    House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate. If a
363    vacancy occurs in the office of state senator and no session of
364    the Legislature is scheduled to be held prior to the next
365    general election, the Governor may fix the dates for theany
366    special primary electionand for the special election to
367    coincide with the dates of the first and second primary election
368    and general election. If a vacancy in office occurs in any
369    district in the state Senate or House of Representatives or in
370    any congressional district, and no session of the Legislature,
371    or session of Congress if the vacancy is in a congressional
372    district, is scheduled to be held during the unexpired portion
373    of the term, the Governor is not required to call a special
374    election to fill such vacancy.
375          (a) The dates for candidates to qualify in such special
376    election or special primary election shall be fixed by the
377    Department of State, and candidates shall qualify not later than
378    noon of the last day so fixed. The dates fixed for qualifying
379    shall allow a minimum of 14 days between the last day of
380    qualifying and the special firstprimary election.
381          (b) The filing of campaign expense statements by
382    candidates in such special elections or special primaries and by
383    committees making contributions or expenditures to influence the
384    results of such special primaries or special elections shall be
385    not later than such dates as shall be fixed by the Department of
386    State, and in fixing such dates the Department of State shall
387    take into consideration and be governed by the practical time
388    limitations.
389          (c) The dates for a candidate to qualify by the
390    alternative method in such special primary or special election
391    shall be fixed by the Department of State. In fixing such dates
392    the Department of State shall take into consideration and be
393    governed by the practical time limitations. Any candidate
394    seeking to qualify by the alternative method in a special
395    primary election shall obtain 25 percent of the signatures
396    required by s. 99.095, s. 99.0955, or s. 99.096, as applicable.
397          (d) The qualifying fees and party assessments of such
398    candidates as may qualify shall be the same as collected for the
399    same office at the last previous primary for that office. The
400    party assessment shall be paid to the appropriate executive
401    committee of the political party to which the candidate belongs.
402          (e) Each county canvassing board shall make as speedy a
403    return of the result of such special primary elections and
404    special elections and primariesas time will permit, and the
405    Elections Canvassing Commission likewise shall make as speedy a
406    canvass and declaration of the nominees as time will permit.
407          (4)(a) In the event that death, resignation, withdrawal,
408    removal, or any other cause or event should cause a party to
409    have a vacancy in nomination which leaves no candidate for an
410    office from such party, the Governor shall, after conferring
411    with the Secretary of State, call a special primary election
412    and, if necessary, a second special primary electionto select
413    for such office a nominee of such political party. The dates on
414    which candidates may qualify for such special primary election
415    shall be fixed by the Department of State, and the candidates
416    shall qualify no later than noon of the last day so fixed. The
417    filing of campaign expense statements by candidates in special
418    primary electionsprimariesshall not be later than such dates
419    as shall be fixed by the Department of State. In fixing such
420    dates, the Department of State shall take into consideration and
421    be governed by the practical time limitations. The qualifying
422    fees and party assessment of such candidates as may qualify
423    shall be the same as collected for the same office at the last
424    previous primary for that office. Each county canvassing board
425    shall make as speedy a return of the results of such special
426    primary electionsprimariesas time will permit, and the
427    Elections Canvassing Commission shall likewise make as speedy a
428    canvass and declaration of the nominees as time will permit.
429          Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 100.141, Florida
430    Statutes, is amended to read:
431          100.141 Notice of special election to fill any vacancy in
432    office or nomination.--
433          (2) The Department of State shall prepare a notice stating
434    what offices and vacancies are to be filled in the special
435    election, the datesdate set for theeachspecial primary
436    election and the special election, the dates fixed for
437    qualifying for office, the dates fixed for qualifying by the
438    alternative method, and the dates fixed for filing campaign
439    expense statements.
440          Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 101.151, Florida
441    Statutes, is amended and subsection (8) of said section is
442    reenacted, to read:
443          101.151 Specifications for ballots.--
444          (5)(a) The primary election ballot shall allow voters to
445    rank a number of choices in order of preference equal to the
446    total number of candidates for each office; however, if five or
447    more candidates are participating in the election, the total
448    number of allowable rankings shall be limited to four. The
449    ballot shall in no way impede a voter's ability to cast a vote
450    for a write-in candidate.
451          (b) The primary election ballot shall alsobe arranged so
452    that the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are joined
453    in a single voting space to allow each elector to cast a single
454    vote for the joint candidacies for Governor and Lieutenant
455    Governor, if applicable.
456          (8)(a) The Department of State shall adopt rules
457    prescribing a uniform primary and general election ballot for
458    each certified voting system. The rules shall incorporate the
459    requirements set forth in this section and shall prescribe
460    additional matters and forms that include, without limitation:
461          1. Clear and unambiguous ballot instructions and
462    directions;
463          2. Individual race layout; and
464          3. Overall ballot layout.
465          (b) The department rules shall graphically depict a sample
466    uniform primary and general election ballot form for each
467    certified voting system.
468          Section 16. Present subsections (6) through (15) of
469    section 101.5606, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as
470    subsections (7) through (16), respectively, and a new subsection
471    (6) is added to said section, to read:
472          101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.--No
473    electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved
474    by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that:
475          (6) It is capable of accommodating the system of ranked-
476    choice or "instant runoff" primary balloting.
477          Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 101.252, Florida
478    Statutes, is amended to read:
479          101.252 Candidates entitled to have names printed on
480    certain ballots; exception.--
481          (2) Any candidate for party executive committee member who
482    has qualified as prescribed by law is entitled to have his or
483    her name printed on the first primary electionballot. However,
484    when there is only one candidate of any political party
485    qualified for such an office, the name of the candidate shall
486    not be printed on the first primary electionballot, and such
487    candidate shall be declared elected to the state or county
488    executive committee.
489          Section 18. Subsection (4) of section 101.62, Florida
490    Statutes, is amended to read:
491          101.62 Request for absentee ballots.--
492          (4)(a) To each absent qualified elector overseas who has
493    requested an absentee ballot, the supervisor of elections shall,
494    not fewer than 35 days before the first primary election,mail
495    an absentee ballot not fewer than 35 days before the primary or
496    general election. Not fewer than 45 days before the second
497    primary and general election, the supervisor of elections shall
498    mail an advance absentee ballot to those persons requesting
499    ballots for such elections. The advance absentee ballot for the
500    second primary shall be the same as the first primary absentee
501    ballot as to the names of candidates, except that for any
502    offices where there are only two candidates, those offices and
503    all political party executive committee offices shall be
504    omitted. Except as provided in s. 99.063(4), the advance
505    absentee ballot for the general election shall be as specified
506    in s. 101.151, except that in the case of candidates of
507    political parties where nominations were not made in the first
508    primary, the names of the candidates placing first and second in
509    the first primary election shall be printed on the advance
510    absentee ballot. The advance absentee ballot or advance absentee
511    ballot information booklet shall be of a different color for
512    each election and also a different color from the absentee
513    ballots for the first primary, second primary, and general
514    election. The supervisor shall mail an advance absentee ballot
515    for the second primary and general election to each qualified
516    absent elector for whom a request is received until the absentee
517    ballots are printed. The supervisor shall enclose with the
518    advance second primary absentee ballot and advance general
519    election absentee ballot an explanation stating that the
520    absentee ballot for the election will be mailed as soon as it is
521    printed; and, if both the advance absentee ballot and the
522    absentee ballot for the election are returned in time to be
523    counted, only the absentee ballot will be counted. The
524    Department of State may prescribe by rule the requirements for
525    preparing and mailing absentee ballots to absent qualified
526    electors overseas.
527          (b) As soon as the remainder of the absentee ballots are
528    printed,The supervisor shall provide an absentee ballot to each
529    elector by whom a request for that ballot has been made by one
530    of the following means:
531          1. By nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to the
532    elector's current mailing address on file with the supervisor,
533    unless the elector specifies in the request that:
534          a. The elector is absent from the county and does not plan
535    to return before the day of the election;
536          b. The elector is temporarily unable to occupy the
537    residence because of hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, or other
538    emergency or natural disaster; or
539          c. The elector is in a hospital, assisted-living facility,
540    nursing home, short-term medical or rehabilitation facility, or
541    correctional facility,
542         
543          in which case the supervisor shall mail the ballot by
544    nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to any other
545    address the elector specifies in the request.
546          2. By forwardable mail to voters who are entitled to vote
547    by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
548    Voting Act.
549          3. By personal delivery to the elector, upon presentation
550    of the identification required in s. 101.657.
551          4. By delivery to a designee on election day or up to 4
552    days prior to the day of an election. Any elector may designate
553    in writing a person to pick up the ballot for the elector;
554    however, the person designated may not pick up more than two
555    absentee ballots per election, other than the designee's own
556    ballot, except that additional ballots may be picked up for
557    members of the designee's immediate family. For purposes of this
558    section, "immediate family" means the designee's spouse or the
559    parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the designee or of the
560    designee's spouse. The designee shall provide to the supervisor
561    the written authorization by the elector and a picture
562    identification of the designee and must complete an affidavit.
563    The designee shall state in the affidavit that the designee is
564    authorized by the elector to pick up that ballot and shall
565    indicate if the elector is a member of the designee's immediate
566    family and, if so, the relationship. The department shall
567    prescribe the form of the affidavit. If the supervisor is
568    satisfied that the designee is authorized to pick up the ballot
569    and that the signature of the elector on the written
570    authorization matches the signature of the elector on file, the
571    supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee for delivery
572    to the elector.
573          Section 19. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
574    102.014, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
575          102.014 Poll worker recruitment and training.--
576          (4) Each supervisor of elections shall be responsible for
577    training inspectors and clerks, subject to the following minimum
578    requirements:
579          (c) For the purposes of this subsection, the first and
580    second primary elections shall be considered one election.
581          Section 20. Subsection (3) and paragraph (b) of subsection
582    (4) of section 103.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
583          103.021 Nomination for presidential electors.--Candidates
584    for presidential electors shall be nominated in the following
585    manner:
586          (3) Candidates for President and Vice President with no
587    party affiliation may have their names printed on the general
588    election ballots if a petition is signed by 1 percent of the
589    registered electors of this state, as shown by the compilation
590    by the Department of State for the last preceding general
591    election. A separate petition from each county for which
592    signatures are solicited shall be submitted to the supervisor of
593    elections of the respective county no later than July 15 of each
594    presidential election year. The supervisor shall check the names
595    and, on or before the date of the first primary election, shall
596    certify the number shown as registered electors of the county.
597    The supervisor shall be paid by the person requesting the
598    certification the cost of checking the petitions as prescribed
599    in s. 99.097. The supervisor shall then forward the certificate
600    to the Department of State which shall determine whether or not
601    the percentage factor required in this section has been met.
602    When the percentage factor required in this section has been
603    met, the Department of State shall order the names of the
604    candidates for whom the petition was circulated to be included
605    on the ballot and shall permit the required number of persons to
606    be certified as electors in the same manner as party candidates.
607          (4)
608          (b) A minor party that is not affiliated with a national
609    party holding a national convention to nominate candidates for
610    President and Vice President of the United States may have the
611    names of its candidates for President and Vice President printed
612    on the general election ballot if a petition is signed by 1
613    percent of the registered electors of this state, as shown by
614    the compilation by the Department of State for the preceding
615    general election. A separate petition from each county for which
616    signatures are solicited shall be submitted to the supervisors
617    of elections of the respective county no later than July 15 of
618    each presidential election year. The supervisor shall check the
619    names and, on or before the date of the first primary election,
620    shall certify the number shown as registered electors of the
621    county. The supervisor shall be paid by the person requesting
622    the certification the cost of checking the petitions as
623    prescribed in s. 99.097. The supervisor shall then forward the
624    certificate to the Department of State, which shall determine
625    whether or not the percentage factor required in this section
626    has been met. When the percentage factor required in this
627    section has been met, the Department of State shall order the
628    names of the candidates for whom the petition was circulated to
629    be included on the ballot and shall permit the required number
630    of persons to be certified as electors in the same manner as
631    other party candidates.
632          Section 21. Section 103.022, Florida Statutes, is amended
633    to read:
634          103.022 Write-in candidates for President and Vice
635    President.--Persons seeking to qualify for election as write-in
636    candidates for President and Vice President of the United States
637    may have a blank space provided on the general election ballot
638    for their names to be written in by filing an oath with the
639    Department of State at any time after the 57th day, but before
640    noon of the 49th day, prior to the date of the firstprimary
641    election in the year in which a presidential election is held.
642    The Department of State shall prescribe the form to be used in
643    administering the oath. The candidates shall file with the
644    department a certificate naming the required number of persons
645    to serve as electors. Such write-in candidates shall not be
646    entitled to have their names on the ballot.
647          Section 22. Subsection (4) of section 103.091, Florida
648    Statutes, is amended to read:
649          103.091 Political parties.--
650          (4) Any political party other than a minor political party
651    may by rule provide for the membership of its state or county
652    executive committee to be elected for 4-year terms at the first
653    primary election in each year a presidential election is held.
654    The terms shall commence on the first day of the month following
655    each presidential general election; but the names of candidates
656    for political party offices shall not be placed on the ballot at
657    any other election. The results of such election shall be
658    determined by a plurality of the votes cast. In such event,
659    electors seeking to qualify for such office shall do so with the
660    Department of State or supervisor of elections not earlier than
661    noon of the 57th day, or later than noon of the 53rd day,
662    preceding the firstprimary election. The outgoing chair of each
663    county executive committee shall, within 30 days after the
664    committee members take office, hold an organizational meeting of
665    all newly elected members for the purpose of electing officers.
666    The chair of each state executive committee shall, within 60
667    days after the committee members take office, hold an
668    organizational meeting of all newly elected members for the
669    purpose of electing officers.
670          Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 105.031, Florida
671    Statutes, is amended to read:
672          105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate's oath; items
673    required to be filed.--
674          (1) TIME OF QUALIFYING.--Except for candidates for
675    judicial office, nonpartisan candidates for multicounty office
676    shall qualify with the Division of Elections of the Department
677    of State and nonpartisan candidates for countywide or less than
678    countywide office shall qualify with the supervisor of
679    elections. Candidates for judicial office other than the office
680    of county court judge shall qualify with the Division of
681    Elections of the Department of State, and candidates for the
682    office of county court judge shall qualify with the supervisor
683    of elections of the county. Candidates for judicial office shall
684    qualify no earlier than noon of the 120th day, and no later than
685    noon of the 116th day, before the firstprimary election.
686    Candidates for the office of school board member shall qualify
687    no earlier than noon of the 50th day, and no later than noon of
688    the 46th day, before the firstprimary election. Filing shall be
689    on forms provided for that purpose by the Division of Elections
690    and furnished by the appropriate qualifying officer. Any person
691    seeking to qualify by the alternative method, as set forth in s.
692    105.035, if the person has submitted the necessary petitions by
693    the required deadline and is notified after the fifth day prior
694    to the last day for qualifying that the required number of
695    signatures has been obtained, shall be entitled to subscribe to
696    the candidate's oath and file the qualifying papers at any time
697    within 5 days from the date he or she is notified that the
698    necessary number of signatures has been obtained. Any person
699    other than a write-in candidate who qualifies within the time
700    prescribed in this subsection shall be entitled to have his or
701    her name printed on the ballot.
702          Section 24. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 105.041,
703    Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
704          105.041 Form of ballot.--
705          (1) BALLOTS.--The names of candidates for nonpartisan
706    judicial office and candidates for the office of school board
707    member which appear on the ballot at the first primary election
708    mustshall eitherbe grouped together on a separate portion of
709    the ballot or on a separate ballot. The names of candidates for
710    election to nonpartisanjudicial office and candidates for the
711    office of school board memberwhich appear on the ballot at the
712    general election and the names of justices and judges seeking
713    retention to office mustshallbe grouped together on a separate
714    portion of the general election ballot.
715          (2) LISTING OF CANDIDATES.--
716          (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the order of
717    nonpartisan offices appearing on the ballot shall be determined
718    by the Department of State. The names of candidates for election
719    to each nonpartisan office shall be listed in alphabetical
720    order. With respect to retention of justices and judges, the
721    question "Shall Justice (or Judge) (name of justice or judge) of
722    the (name of the court) be retained in office?" shall appear on
723    the ballot in alphabetical order and thereafter the words "Yes"
724    and "No."
725          (b)1. The names of candidates for the office of circuit
726    judge shall be listed on the first primary electionballot in
727    the order determined by lot conducted by the director of the
728    Division of Elections of the Department of State after the close
729    of the qualifying period.
730          2. Candidates who have secured a position on the general
731    election ballot, after having survived elimination at the first
732    primary election, shall have their names listed in the same
733    order as on the first primary electionballot, notwithstanding
734    the elimination of any intervening names as a result of the
735    first primary election.
736          Section 25. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
737    105.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
738          105.051 Determination of election or retention to
739    office.--
740          (1) ELECTION.--In circuits and counties holding elections:
741          (b) If two or more candidates, neither of whom is a write-
742    in candidate, qualify for such an office, the names of those
743    candidates shall be placed on the ballot at the firstprimary
744    election. If any candidate for such office receives a majority
745    of the votes cast for such office in the firstprimary election,
746    the name of the candidate who receives such majority shall not
747    appear on any other ballot unless a write-in candidate has
748    qualified for such office. An unopposed candidate shall be
749    deemed to have voted for himself or herself at the general
750    election. If no candidate for such office receives a majority of
751    the votes cast for such office in the firstprimary election,
752    the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of
753    votes for such office shall be placed on the general election
754    ballot. If more than two candidates receive an equal and highest
755    number of votes, the name of each candidate receiving an equal
756    and highest number of votes shall be placed on the general
757    election ballot. In any contest in which there is a tie for
758    second place and the candidate placing first did not receive a
759    majority of the votes cast for such office, the name of the
760    candidate placing first and the name of each candidate tying for
761    second shall be placed on the general election ballot.
762          Section 26. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
763    section 106.07, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
764          106.07 Reports; certification and filing.--
765          (1) Each campaign treasurer designated by a candidate or
766    political committee pursuant to s. 106.021 shall file regular
767    reports of all contributions received, and all expenditures
768    made, by or on behalf of such candidate or political committee.
769    Reports shall be filed on the 10th day following the end of each
770    calendar quarter from the time the campaign treasurer is
771    appointed, except that, if the 10th day following the end of a
772    calendar quarter occurs on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,
773    the report shall be filed on the next following day which is not
774    a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Quarterly reports shall
775    include all contributions received and expenditures made during
776    the calendar quarter which have not otherwise been reported
777    pursuant to this section.
778          (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), following the
779    last day of qualifying for office, the reports shall be filed on
780    the 32nd, 18th, and 4th days immediately preceding the first
781    primary and on the 46th, 32nd, 18th,and 4th days immediately
782    preceding the second primary andgeneral election, for a
783    candidate who is opposed in seeking nomination or election to
784    any office, for a political committee, or for a committee of
785    continuous existence.
786          (b) Following the last day of qualifying for office, any
787    statewide candidate who has requested to receive contributions
788    from the Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund or any statewide
789    candidate in a race with a candidate who has requested to
790    receive contributions from the trust fund shall file reports on
791    the 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, and 32nd days prior to the first
792    primary electionand general elections, and on the 4th, 11th,
793    18th, and 25th, 32nd, 39th, 46th, and 53rd days prior to the
794    general electionsecond primary.
795          Section 27. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
796    106.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
797          106.08 Contributions; limitations on.--
798          (1)
799          (c) The contribution limits of this subsection apply to
800    each election. For purposes of this subsection, the first
801    primary election, second primary,and general election are
802    separate elections so long as the candidate is not an unopposed
803    candidate as defined in s. 106.011(15). However, for the purpose
804    of contribution limits with respect to candidates for retention
805    as a justice or judge, there is only one election, which is the
806    general election. With respect to candidates in a circuit
807    holding an election for circuit judge or in a county holding an
808    election for county court judge, there are only two elections,
809    which are the first primary election and general election.
810          Section 28. Subsection (1) of section 106.29, Florida
811    Statutes, is amended to read:
812          106.29 Reports by political parties; restrictions on
813    contributions and expenditures; penalties.--
814          (1) The state executive committee and each county
815    executive committee of each political party regulated by chapter
816    103 shall file regular reports of all contributions received and
817    all expenditures made by such committee. Such reports shall
818    contain the same information as do reports required of
819    candidates by s. 106.07 and shall be filed on the 10th day
820    following the end of each calendar quarter, except that, during
821    the period from the last day for candidate qualifying until the
822    general election, such reports shall be filed on the Friday
823    immediately preceding both the first primary election, the
824    second primary election,and the general election. Each state
825    executive committee shall file the original and one copy of its
826    reports with the Division of Elections. Each county executive
827    committee shall file its reports with the supervisor of
828    elections in the county in which such committee exists. Any
829    state or county executive committee failing to file a report on
830    the designated due date shall be subject to a fine as provided
831    in subsection (3). No separate fine shall be assessed for
832    failure to file a copy of any report required by this section.
833          Section 29. Any voting system certified for use in the
834    state on January 2, 2004, must meet the new certification
835    requirements of s. 101.5606, Florida Statutes, as amended by
836    this act, by July 1, 2004.
837          Section 30. If any law amended by this act was also
838    amended by a law enacted at the 2003 Regular Session of the
839    Legislature or at the 2003 Special Session A of the Legislature,
840    such laws shall be construed as if they had been enacted at the
841    same session of the Legislature, and full effect shall be given
842    to each if possible.
843          Section 31. This act shall take effect January 2, 2004.