Florida Senate - 2009                                    SB 1098
       
       
       
       By Senator Joyner
       
       
       
       
       18-00299A-09                                          20091098__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to early voting; amending s. 101.657,
    3         F.S.; expanding the list of available sites at which
    4         early voting may be held to include any location
    5         designated by a supervisor of elections meeting the
    6         requirements of state law; deleting a requirement that
    7         an early voting site be designated and used as such
    8         for at least 1 year before an election; requiring that
    9         the Division of Elections of the Department of State
   10         establish by rule a formula for determining the number
   11         of early voting sites in each county; expanding early
   12         voting hours to 12 hours per weekday and 12 hours in
   13         the aggregate each weekend at each site during the
   14         applicable periods; providing an effective date.
   15         
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17         
   18         Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
   19  section 101.657, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   20         101.657 Early voting.—
   21         (1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of
   22  elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or
   23  branch office of the supervisor, any city hall or public library
   24  facility, or any other location designated by the supervisor
   25  meeting the requirements of this section. The supervisor shall
   26  mark, code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter's precinct
   27  for each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be
   28  used for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the
   29  supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for
   30  at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also
   31  designate any city hall or permanent public library facility as
   32  early voting sites; however, if so designated, the Early voting
   33  sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters
   34  in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as
   35  is practicable. The Division of Elections of the Department of
   36  State shall establish by rule a formula for determining the
   37  number of early voting sites in each county. The results or
   38  tabulation of votes cast during early voting may not be made
   39  before the close of the polls on election day. Results shall be
   40  reported by precinct.
   41         (d) Early voting shall begin on the 15th day before an
   42  election and end on the 2nd day before an election. For purposes
   43  of a special election held pursuant to s. 100.101, early voting
   44  shall begin on the 8th day before an election and end on the 2nd
   45  day before an election. Early voting shall be provided for 12 8
   46  hours per weekday and 12 8 hours in the aggregate each weekend
   47  at each site during the applicable periods. Early voting sites
   48  shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later than 7 p.m.
   49  on each applicable day.
   50         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.