Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 1400
       
       
       
       By Senator Smith
       
       
       
       
       29-01101-11                                           20111400__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to early voting; amending s. 101.657,
    3         F.S.; authorizing the supervisor of elections to
    4         designate sites, other than city halls or public
    5         libraries, as early voting sites if the early voting
    6         site is convenient, spacious, accessible, and secure;
    7         providing an effective date.
    8  
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
   12  101.657, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   13         101.657 Early voting.—
   14         (1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of
   15  elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or
   16  branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark,
   17  code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for
   18  each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used
   19  for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the
   20  supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for
   21  at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also
   22  designate any city hall, or permanent public library facility,
   23  or any other site that is convenient, spacious, accessible, and
   24  secure as early voting sites; however, if so designated, the
   25  sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters
   26  in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as
   27  is practicable. The results or tabulation of votes cast during
   28  early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on
   29  election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.
   30         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.