Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1528
       
       
        
       By Senator Cruz
       
       
       
       
       
       18-00320-21                                           20211528__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to vote-by-mail ballots; amending ss.
    3         101.64, 101.65, 101.6921, and 101.6923, F.S.;
    4         requiring the supervisor of elections to enclose a
    5         postage paid mailing envelope with each vote-by-mail
    6         ballot; conforming provisions to changes made by the
    7         act; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 101.64, Florida
   12  Statutes, is amended to read:
   13         101.64 Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots; envelopes; form.—
   14         (1) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote-by-mail
   15  ballot two envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the absent
   16  elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a postage
   17  paid mailing envelope, into which the absent elector shall then
   18  place the secrecy envelope, which shall be addressed to the
   19  supervisor and also bear on the back side a certificate in
   20  substantially the following form:
   21  
   22           Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before         
   23         Marking Ballot and Completing Voter’s Certificate.        
   24  
   25                         VOTER’S CERTIFICATE                       
   26         I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a qualified
   27  and registered voter of .... County, Florida, and that I have
   28  not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I
   29  understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in
   30  connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more
   31  than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the
   32  third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to
   33  5 years. I also understand that failure to sign this certificate
   34  will invalidate my ballot.
   35  ...(Date)...                           ...(Voter’s Signature)...
   36  ...(E-Mail Address)...             ...(Home Telephone Number)...
   37  ...(Mobile Telephone Number)...
   38  
   39         Section 2. Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   40  read:
   41         101.65 Instructions to absent electors.—The supervisor
   42  shall enclose with each vote-by-mail ballot separate printed
   43  instructions in substantially the following form; however, where
   44  the instructions appear in capitalized text, the text of the
   45  printed instructions must be in bold font:
   46  
   47                  READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY                
   48                       BEFORE MARKING BALLOT.                      
   49  
   50         1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that your vote-by
   51  mail ballot will be counted, it should be completed and returned
   52  as soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of
   53  elections of the county in which your precinct is located no
   54  later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. However, if you
   55  are an overseas voter casting a ballot in a presidential
   56  preference primary or general election, your vote-by-mail ballot
   57  must be postmarked or dated no later than the date of the
   58  election and received by the supervisor of elections of the
   59  county in which you are registered to vote no later than 10 days
   60  after the date of the election. Note that the later you return
   61  your ballot, the less time you will have to cure any signature
   62  deficiencies, which is authorized until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day
   63  after the election.
   64         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
   65  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
   66  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
   67         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
   68  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
   69  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one candidate,
   70  your vote in that race will not be counted.
   71         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
   72  envelope.
   73         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed mailing
   74  envelope which is addressed to the supervisor.
   75         6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out the
   76  Voter’s Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope.
   77         7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for your vote-by-mail ballot to
   78  be counted, you must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
   79  Signature). A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and
   80  not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does
   81  not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the
   82  time the supervisor of elections in the county in which your
   83  precinct is located receives your vote-by-mail ballot is the
   84  signature that will be used to verify your signature on the
   85  voter’s certificate. If you need to update your signature for
   86  this election, send your signature update on a voter
   87  registration application to your supervisor of elections so that
   88  it is received before your vote-by-mail ballot is received.
   89         8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas voter, you must
   90  include the date you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line
   91  above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted.
   92         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
   93  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed. THE
   94  COMPLETED MAILING ENVELOPE CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE OFFICE OF THE
   95  SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOUR PRECINCT IS
   96  LOCATED OR DROPPED OFF AT AN AUTHORIZED SECURE DROP BOX,
   97  AVAILABLE AT EACH EARLY VOTING LOCATION.
   98         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
   99  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
  100  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
  101  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
  102  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
  103         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 101.6921, Florida
  104  Statutes, is amended to read:
  105         101.6921 Delivery of special vote-by-mail ballot to certain
  106  first-time voters.—
  107         (2) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote-by-mail
  108  ballot three envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the
  109  absent elector will enclose his or her marked ballot; an
  110  envelope containing the Voter’s Certificate, into which the
  111  absent elector shall place the secrecy envelope; and a postage
  112  paid mailing envelope, which shall be addressed to the
  113  supervisor and into which the absent elector will place the
  114  envelope containing the Voter’s Certificate and a copy of the
  115  required identification.
  116         Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida
  117  Statutes, is amended to read:
  118         101.6923 Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for
  119  certain first-time voters.—
  120         (2) A voter covered by this section shall be provided with
  121  printed instructions with his or her vote-by-mail ballot in
  122  substantially the following form:
  123  
  124         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR
  125         BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE
  126         YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
  127  
  128         1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
  129  counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible
  130  so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county
  131  in which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the
  132  date of the election. However, if you are an overseas voter
  133  casting a ballot in a presidential preference primary or general
  134  election, your vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked or dated
  135  no later than the date of the election and received by the
  136  supervisor of elections of the county in which you are
  137  registered to vote no later than 10 days after the date of the
  138  election.
  139         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
  140  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
  141  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
  142         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
  143  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
  144  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in
  145  that race will not be counted.
  146         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
  147  envelope and seal the envelope.
  148         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope
  149  bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and
  150  completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the
  151  envelope.
  152         a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
  153  Signature).
  154         b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date
  155  you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or
  156  your ballot may not be counted.
  157         c. A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and
  158  will not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate
  159  does not match the signature on record. The signature on file at
  160  the start of the canvass of the vote-by-mail ballots is the
  161  signature that will be used to verify your signature on the
  162  Voter’s Certificate. If you need to update your signature for
  163  this election, send your signature update on a voter
  164  registration application to your supervisor of elections so that
  165  it is received before your vote-by-mail ballot is received.
  166         6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you
  167  must make a copy of one of the following forms of
  168  identification:
  169         a. Identification which must include your name and
  170  photograph: United States passport; debit or credit card;
  171  military identification; student identification; retirement
  172  center identification; neighborhood association identification;
  173  public assistance identification; veteran health identification
  174  card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
  175  a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or an
  176  employee identification card issued by any branch, department,
  177  agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a
  178  county, or a municipality; or
  179         b. Identification which shows your name and current
  180  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
  181  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
  182  voter information card).
  183         7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply
  184  if you meet one of the following requirements:
  185         a. You are 65 years of age or older.
  186         b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
  187         c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty
  188  who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the
  189  county on election day.
  190         d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason
  191  of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the
  192  county on election day.
  193         e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to
  194  in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active
  195  duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on
  196  election day.
  197         f. You are currently residing outside the United States.
  198         8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into
  199  the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy
  200  of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR
  201  IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR
  202  INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR
  203  BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT.
  204         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
  205  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
  206         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
  207  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
  208  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
  209  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
  210  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
  211         Section 5. This act shall take effect October 1, 2021.