Florida Senate - 2009                                    SB 1930
       
       
       
       By Senator Lawson
       
       
       
       
       6-01556-09                                            20091930__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to early voting sites; amending s.
    3         101.657, F.S.; permitting the supervisor of elections
    4         to designate additional early voting sites; providing
    5         an effective date.
    6         
    7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8         
    9         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 101.657, Florida
   10  Statutes, is amended to read:
   11         101.657 Early voting.—
   12         (1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of
   13  elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or
   14  branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark,
   15  code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter's precinct for
   16  each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used
   17  for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the
   18  supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for
   19  at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also
   20  designate any city hall or other permanent public library
   21  facility as early voting sites; however, if so designated, the
   22  sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters
   23  in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as
   24  is practicable. The results or tabulation of votes cast during
   25  early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on
   26  election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.
   27         (b) The supervisor shall designate each early voting site
   28  by no later than the 30th day prior to an election and shall
   29  designate an early voting area, as defined in s. 97.021, at each
   30  early voting site.
   31         (c) All early voting sites in a county shall be open on the
   32  same days for the same amount of time and shall allow any person
   33  in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote.
   34         (d) Early voting shall begin on the 15th day before an
   35  election and end on the 2nd day before an election. For purposes
   36  of a special election held pursuant to s. 100.101, early voting
   37  shall begin on the 8th day before an election and end on the 2nd
   38  day before an election. Early voting shall be provided for 8
   39  hours per weekday and 8 hours in the aggregate each weekend at
   40  each site during the applicable periods. Early voting sites
   41  shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later than 7 p.m.
   42  on each applicable day.
   43         (e) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 100.3605,
   44  municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections
   45  that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections.
   46  If a municipality provides early voting, it may designate as
   47  many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in
   48  accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The
   49  supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is
   50  provided pursuant to this subsection.
   51         (f) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 189.405, special
   52  districts may provide early voting in any district election not
   53  held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a special
   54  district provides early voting, it may designate as many sites
   55  as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with
   56  the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not
   57  required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to
   58  this subsection.
   59         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.