Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1602
By Senator Gruters
22-00735-24 20241602__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.026,
3 F.S.; requiring that certain instructions be
4 prominently displayed on certain Internet websites;
5 amending s. 97.052, F.S.; revising the information
6 that the uniform statewide voter registration
7 application must be designed to elicit from an
8 applicant and must contain; amending s. 97.053, F.S.;
9 requiring the Department of State and supervisors of
10 elections to verify certain information relating to
11 citizenship status; providing that eligibility to vote
12 must be verified in a certain manner; requiring a
13 supervisor of elections to refer certain matters to
14 the Office of Election Crimes and Security; amending
15 s. 97.0535, F.S.; requiring certain voter registration
16 applicants who have not previously voted in the state
17 to provide certain identification before voting;
18 revising the forms of identification that may be
19 accepted for a certain purpose; revising the persons
20 who are exempt from certain identification
21 requirements; providing that certain persons currently
22 residing outside the United States must meet certain
23 requirements; providing that certain identification
24 may be submitted in a certain manner; amending s.
25 97.057, F.S.; requiring the Department of Highway
26 Safety and Motor Vehicles to provide an opportunity to
27 register to vote or update voter registration records
28 to certain individuals; requiring the department to
29 provide certain notification to certain individuals;
30 requiring a voter registration applicant to provide a
31 wet signature; requiring the department to offer
32 certain opportunities to certain individuals;
33 requiring the department to send voter registration
34 applications or certain instructions to certain
35 individuals; requiring the department to notify the
36 Department of State of certain information; requiring
37 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to
38 provide certain weekly and by-query reports to the
39 Department of State and supervisors of elections;
40 requiring a supervisor of elections to remove certain
41 persons from the statewide voter registration system;
42 amending s. 97.0575, F.S.; requiring a third-party
43 voter registration organization to provide a certain
44 affirmation to the Division of Elections; amending s.
45 97.0585, F.S.; providing that certain information is
46 not exempt from public records requirements; amending
47 s. 97.1031, F.S.; requiring a supervisor of elections
48 to verify an elector’s eligibility status using all
49 available data sources in certain circumstances;
50 amending s. 98.045, F.S.; requiring a supervisor of
51 elections to use all available data sources to make a
52 certain determination; providing that the receipt of
53 certain information from the Department of Highway
54 Safety and Motor Vehicles shall be considered a
55 request from a voter for his or her removal from the
56 statewide voter registration system; requiring the
57 Department of State to include certain information in
58 the database of valid residential street addresses;
59 requiring the department to adopt rules; amending s.
60 98.065, F.S.; requiring a supervisor of elections to
61 conduct certain bulk list maintenance at least
62 quarterly; requiring a supervisor of elections to at
63 least quarterly analyze the voter registration
64 database for a certain purpose and to take certain
65 actions; amending s. 98.075, F.S.; requiring a
66 supervisor of elections to remove certain names from
67 the statewide voter registration system after certain
68 verification using Department of Highway Safety and
69 Motor Vehicles records; requiring a supervisor of
70 elections to take certain actions upon receipt of,
71 access to, or knowledge of certain information from a
72 credible source; specifying certain credible sources
73 of certain information; requiring a supervisor of
74 elections to send an address confirmation and an
75 address confirmation final notice in certain
76 circumstances; amending s. 98.093, F.S.; requiring
77 state and local government agencies to facilitate the
78 provision of certain information and data access to
79 the Department of State and supervisors of elections;
80 amending s. 98.255, F.S.; requiring the Department of
81 State to adopt rules relating to nonpartisan voter
82 education; requiring a county supervisor to provide
83 certain education; providing an effective date.
84
85 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
86
87 Section 1. Section 97.026, Florida Statutes, is amended to
88 read:
89 97.026 Forms to be available in alternative formats and via
90 the Internet.—
91 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that all forms
92 required to be used in chapters 97-106 shall be made available
93 upon request, in alternative formats. Such forms shall include
94 vote-by-mail ballots as alternative formats for such ballots
95 become available and the Division of Elections is able to
96 certify systems that provide them. Whenever possible, such
97 forms, with the exception of vote-by-mail ballots, shall be made
98 available by the Department of State via the Internet. Sections
99 that contain such forms include, but are not limited to, ss.
100 97.051, 97.052, 97.053, 97.057, 97.058, 97.0583, 97.071, 97.073,
101 97.1031, 98.075, 99.021, 100.361, 100.371, 101.045, 101.171,
102 101.20, 101.6103, 101.62, 101.64, 101.65, 101.657, 105.031,
103 106.023, and 106.087.
104 (2) Instructions on how to cancel voter registration must
105 be prominently displayed on any Internet website that instructs
106 voters on how to update their voter registration information.
107 Section 2. Paragraph (n) of subsection (2) and paragraph
108 (f) of subsection (3) of section 97.052, Florida Statutes, are
109 amended to read:
110 97.052 Uniform statewide voter registration application.—
111 (2) The uniform statewide voter registration application
112 must be designed to elicit the following information from the
113 applicant:
114 (n) Florida driver license number or the identification
115 number from a Florida identification card issued under s.
116 322.051, and the last four digits of the applicant’s social
117 security number.
118 (3) The uniform statewide voter registration application
119 must also contain:
120 (f) A statement informing an applicant who has not been
121 issued a Florida driver license, a Florida identification card,
122 or a social security number that if the application is submitted
123 by mail and the applicant is registering for the first time in
124 this state, the applicant will be required to provide
125 identification before prior to voting the first time.
126 Section 3. Subsection (6) of section 97.053, Florida
127 Statutes, is amended to read:
128 97.053 Acceptance of voter registration applications.—
129 (6)(a) A voter registration application, including an
130 application with a change in name, address, or party
131 affiliation, may be accepted as valid only after the department
132 has verified the authenticity or nonexistence of the driver
133 license number, the Florida identification card number, or the
134 last four digits of the social security number provided by the
135 applicant.
136 1. If the voter registration applicant applies using a
137 driver license or Florida identification card number, the
138 department and the supervisor of elections must also verify that
139 the driver license number or Florida identification card number
140 was not obtained using non-United States citizen documentation
141 and is classified as that of a United States citizen in
142 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records. If the
143 driver license was obtained using non-United States citizen
144 documentation, every possible means must be used to determine if
145 the applicant became a naturalized citizen after obtaining his
146 or her driver license. The department may not accept as valid a
147 voter registration application if non-United States citizen
148 status is indicated and shall document the result of checks
149 completed to confirm that none of the supplied credentials
150 indicate non-United States citizen status.
151 2. If the voter registration applicant applies using the
152 last four digits of his or her social security number, the
153 department must use all possible means to verify citizenship
154 status and the applicant is required to present his or her
155 social security card before voting for the first time in this
156 state. A voter who presents at the polling place a social
157 security card that contains a work restriction must vote on a
158 provisional ballot and provide proof of citizenship before his
159 or her vote may be counted.
160 3. If the voter registration applicant applies without a
161 driver license number, Florida identification card number, or
162 social security number, all possible means must be used to
163 verify citizenship status, including data from the courts,
164 Department of Corrections, or any other governmental agency that
165 collects citizenship data. If there are no findings that
166 indicate that the applicant is not a United States citizen, the
167 application may be accepted as valid.
168 4. The voter’s eligibility to vote pursuant to s. 97.041
169 must be verified by comparing information from all available
170 sources, including the department’s records, to determine if his
171 or her driver license is currently classified by the department
172 as a non-United States citizen license, a surrendered license of
173 a person who moved out of state, or a license of a person who is
174 deceased.
175 5. If a supervisor of elections determines that false
176 affirmations have been knowingly made on a voter registration
177 application, the matter must be referred to the Office of
178 Election Crimes and Security.
179 (b) If a completed voter registration application has been
180 received by the book-closing deadline but the driver license
181 number, the Florida identification card number, or the last four
182 digits of the social security number provided by the applicant
183 cannot be verified, the applicant shall be notified that the
184 number cannot be verified and that the applicant must provide
185 evidence to the supervisor sufficient to verify the authenticity
186 of the applicant’s driver license number, Florida identification
187 card number, or last four digits of the social security number.
188 If the applicant provides the necessary evidence, the supervisor
189 shall place the applicant’s name on the registration rolls as an
190 active voter. If the applicant has not provided the necessary
191 evidence or the number has not otherwise been verified prior to
192 the applicant presenting himself or herself to vote, the
193 applicant shall be provided a provisional ballot. The
194 provisional ballot shall be counted only if the number is
195 verified by the end of the canvassing period or if the applicant
196 presents evidence to the supervisor of elections sufficient to
197 verify the authenticity of the applicant’s driver license
198 number, Florida identification card number, or last four digits
199 of the social security number no later than 5 p.m. of the second
200 day following the election.
201 Section 4. Section 97.0535, Florida Statutes, is amended to
202 read:
203 97.0535 Special requirements for certain applicants.—
204 (1) Each applicant who registers by any method other than
205 at an office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
206 Vehicles mail and who has never previously voted in the state
207 and who the department has verified has not been issued a
208 current and valid Florida driver license or, Florida
209 identification card, or social security number shall be required
210 to provide a copy of a current and valid identification, as
211 provided in subsection (3), or indicate that he or she is exempt
212 from the requirements before prior to voting. Such
213 identification or indication may be provided at the time of
214 registering, or at any time before prior to voting for the first
215 time in the state. If the voter registration application clearly
216 provides information from which a voter registration official
217 can determine that the applicant meets at least one of the
218 exemptions in subsection (4), the voter registration official
219 shall make the notation on the registration records of the
220 statewide voter registration system and the applicant shall not
221 be required to provide the identification required by this
222 section.
223 (2) The voter registration official shall, upon accepting
224 the voter registration application submitted pursuant to
225 subsection (1), determine if the applicant provided the required
226 identification at the time of registering. If the required
227 identification was not provided, the supervisor shall notify the
228 applicant that he or she must provide one of the following forms
229 of identification before prior to voting the first time in the
230 state.
231 (3)(a) The following forms of identification shall be
232 considered current and valid if they contain the name and
233 photograph of the applicant and have not expired:
234 1. United States passport.
235 2. United states birth certificate, accompanied by an
236 acceptable identification that contains the name and photograph
237 of the applicant.
238 3. United States naturalization papers, accompanied by an
239 acceptable identification that contains the name and photograph
240 of the applicant.
241 4. A consular report of birth abroad provided by the United
242 States Department of State, accompanied by an acceptable
243 identification that contains the name and photograph of the
244 applicant.
245 5. A social security card that does not contain a work
246 restriction, accompanied by an acceptable identification that
247 contains the name and photograph of the applicant.
248 (b) Acceptable identification for purposes of subparagraphs
249 (a)1.-5. include the following:
250 1.2. Debit or credit card.
251 2.3. Military identification.
252 3.4. Student identification.
253 4.5. Retirement center identification.
254 6. Neighborhood association identification.
255 5.7. Public assistance identification.
256 6.8. Veteran health identification card issued by the
257 United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
258 7.9. A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm
259 issued pursuant to s. 790.06.
260 8.10. Employee identification card issued by any branch,
261 department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the
262 state, a county, or a municipality.
263 (c)(b) The following forms of identification shall be
264 considered proof of residential address current and valid if
265 they are dated within the last 2 months and contain the name and
266 current residence address of the applicant as provided in the
267 voter registration application:
268 1. Utility bill.
269 2. Bank statement.
270 3. Government check.
271 4. Paycheck.
272 5. Other government document (excluding voter
273 identification card).
274 (4) The following persons are exempt from the
275 identification requirements of this section:
276 (a) Persons 65 years of age or older.
277 (a)(b) Persons with a temporary or permanent physical
278 disability, as documented by a doctor’s note provided to a voter
279 registration official.
280 (b)(c) Members of the uniformed service on active duty, as
281 documented by a current military identification provided to a
282 voter registration official, who, by reason of such active duty,
283 are absent from the county on election day.
284 (c)(d) Members of the Merchant Marine, as documented by a
285 current Merchant Marine identification provided to a voter
286 registration official, who, by reason of service in the Merchant
287 Marine, are absent from the county on election day.
288 (d)(e) The spouse or dependent of a member referred to in
289 paragraph (b) (c) or paragraph (c), as documented by a uniformed
290 services dependent identification, (d) who, by reason of the
291 active duty or service of the member, is absent from the county
292 on election day.
293 (5)(f) A person Persons currently residing outside the
294 United States who is are eligible to vote in Florida and who is
295 not exempt from the identification requirements of this section
296 under subsection (4) must meet the requirements of subsection
297 (3) except that he or she may provide one of the following in
298 lieu of a document listed in paragraph (3)(c):
299 (a) A document listed in paragraph (3)(c) which is not
300 current and an equivalent document providing his or her
301 residential address outside the United States.
302 (b) A consular report of birth abroad provided by the
303 United States Department of State and proof that his or her
304 parents previously resided in this state.
305 (6) Identification required under this section may be
306 submitted in the same manner as provided in s. 101.68(4)(d).
307 Section 5. Present subsections (3) through (5) and (6)
308 through (13) of section 97.057, Florida Statutes, are
309 redesignated as subsections (4) through (6) and (8) through
310 (15), respectively, subsections (1) and (2) and present
311 subsection (5) are amended, and new subsections (3), (7), (16),
312 and (17) are added to that section, to read:
313 97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
314 Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
315 (1) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
316 shall provide the opportunity to register to vote or to update a
317 voter registration record to each individual classified in
318 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records as a
319 United States citizen who comes to an office of the Department
320 of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that department to:
321 (a) Apply for or renew a driver license;
322 (b) Apply for or renew an identification card pursuant to
323 chapter 322; or
324 (c) Change an address on an existing driver license or
325 identification card.
326 (2) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
327 shall:
328 (a) Notify each individual who is classified in Department
329 of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records as a United States
330 citizen, orally or in writing, that:
331 1. Information gathered for the completion of a driver
332 license or identification card application, renewal, or change
333 of address can be automatically transferred to a voter
334 registration application;
335 2. If additional information and a signature are provided,
336 the voter registration application will be completed and sent to
337 the proper election authority;
338 3. Information provided can also be used to update a voter
339 registration record;
340 4. All declinations will remain confidential and may be
341 used only for voter registration purposes; and
342 5. The particular driver license office in which the person
343 applies to register to vote or updates a voter registration
344 record will remain confidential and may be used only for voter
345 registration purposes.
346 (b) Require a driver license examiner to inquire orally or,
347 if the applicant is hearing impaired, inquire in writing whether
348 the applicant wishes to register to vote or update a voter
349 registration record during the completion of a driver license or
350 identification card application, renewal, or change of address.
351 1. If the applicant chooses to register to vote or to
352 update a voter registration record:
353 a. All applicable information received by the Department of
354 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in the course of filling out
355 the forms necessary under subsection (1) must be transferred to
356 a voter registration application.
357 b. The additional necessary information must be obtained by
358 the driver license examiner and must not duplicate any
359 information already obtained while completing the forms required
360 under subsection (1).
361 c. A voter registration application with all of the
362 applicant’s voter registration information required to establish
363 the applicant’s eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041 must be
364 presented to the applicant to review and verify the voter
365 registration information received and to provide a wet signature
366 and an electronic signature affirming the accuracy of the
367 information provided.
368 2. If the applicant declines to register to vote, update
369 the applicant’s voter registration record, or change the
370 applicant’s address by either orally declining or by failing to
371 sign the voter registration application, the Department of
372 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must note such declination on
373 its records and shall forward the declination to the statewide
374 voter registration system.
375 (3) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
376 shall offer an individual identified as not being a United
377 States citizen the opportunity to update his or her driver
378 license classification upon becoming a United States citizen.
379 Upon updating his or her driver license classification to
380 reflect United States citizenship, the individual must be
381 offered the opportunity to register to vote.
382 (6)(5) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
383 must send, with each driver license renewal extension
384 application authorized pursuant to s. 322.18(8) and sent to an
385 individual classified in Department of Highway Safety and Motor
386 Vehicles records as a United States citizen, a uniform statewide
387 voter registration application, the voter registration
388 application prescribed under paragraph (4)(a) (3)(a), or a voter
389 registration application developed especially for the purposes
390 of this subsection by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
391 Vehicles, with the approval of the Department of State, which
392 must meet the requirements of s. 97.052.
393 (7) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
394 must send, with each driver license renewal extension
395 application authorized pursuant to s. 322.18(8) and sent to an
396 individual classified in the Department of Highway Safety and
397 Motor Vehicles records as a non-United States citizen,
398 instructions on how he or she may update his or her driver
399 license classification upon becoming a United States citizen.
400 (16)(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
401 must notify the Department of State when a driver license has
402 been made invalid due to the issuance of a driver license in
403 another state or due to notification of death. The Department of
404 State must report each such change to the appropriate supervisor
405 of elections, who shall remove the registered voter from the
406 statewide voter registration system in accordance with s.
407 98.075(3)(a) or (7), as applicable.
408 (b) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
409 shall make driver license surrender and death reports available
410 in weekly reports to the Department of State and make driver
411 license surrender and death status available by means of online
412 or written query and customized reports to the Department of
413 State and supervisors of elections.
414 (17)(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
415 must notify the Department of State when a Florida
416 identification card or driver license has been obtained with
417 documentation that indicates that the applicant is not a United
418 States citizen. Documentation deemed to indicate that an
419 individual is not a United States citizen includes social
420 security cards that contain a work restriction, alien
421 registration receipt cards, employment authorization cards
422 issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security, and
423 proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by the United
424 States Department of Homeland Security.
425 (b) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
426 shall make non-United States citizen status available in weekly
427 reports to the Department of State and available by means of
428 online or written query and customized reports to the Department
429 of State and supervisors of elections. An individual identified
430 as a non-United States citizen from such reports by a supervisor
431 of elections must be removed by the supervisor from the
432 statewide voter registration system in accordance with s.
433 98.075(7).
434 Section 6. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
435 section 97.0575, Florida Statutes, to read:
436 97.0575 Third-party voter registration organizations.—
437 (1) Before engaging in any voter registration activities, a
438 third-party voter registration organization must register and
439 provide to the division, in an electronic format, the following
440 information:
441 (g) An affirmation that each person collecting voter
442 registration applications on behalf of the third-party voter
443 registration organization:
444 1. May not knowingly solicit persons who are not United
445 States citizens to register to vote;
446 2. Shall incorporate citizenship status and other
447 eligibility requirements listed in s. 97.041 in screening
448 questions; and
449 3. Shall provide any individual who indicates that he or
450 she is not a United States citizen or who displays a driver
451 license indicating that he or she is not a United States citizen
452 with instructions on how to register to vote upon becoming a
453 United States citizen.
454 Section 7. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
455 section 97.0585, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
456 97.0585 Public records exemption; information regarding
457 voters and voter registration; confidentiality.—
458 (1) The following information held by an agency, as defined
459 in s. 119.011, and obtained for the purpose of voter
460 registration is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
461 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and may be used only for
462 purposes of voter registration:
463 (b) Information relating to the place where a person
464 registered to vote or where a person updated a voter
465 registration, except for information relating to the method of
466 registration.
467 (c) The social security number, driver license number, and
468 Florida identification number of a voter registration applicant
469 or voter, except for information relating to the type of number
470 provided.
471 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
472 97.1031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
473 97.1031 Notice of change of residence, change of name, or
474 change of party affiliation.—
475 (1)(a) When an elector changes his or her residence
476 address, the elector must notify the supervisor of elections and
477 the supervisor shall verify the elector’s eligibility status
478 using all available data sources. Except as provided in
479 paragraph (b), an address change must be submitted using a voter
480 registration application.
481 Section 9. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
482 (4) of section 98.045, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
483 paragraph (c) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to
484 read:
485 98.045 Administration of voter registration.—
486 (1) ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANT.—The supervisor must ensure
487 that any eligible applicant for voter registration is registered
488 to vote and that each application for voter registration is
489 processed in accordance with law. The supervisor shall, using
490 all available data sources, determine whether a voter
491 registration applicant is ineligible based on any of the
492 following:
493 (a) The failure to complete a voter registration
494 application as specified in s. 97.053.
495 (b) The applicant is deceased.
496 (c) The applicant has been convicted of a felony for which
497 his or her voting rights have not been restored.
498 (d) The applicant has been adjudicated mentally
499 incapacitated with respect to the right to vote and such right
500 has not been restored.
501 (e) The applicant does not meet the age requirement
502 pursuant to s. 97.041.
503 (f) The applicant is not a United States citizen.
504 (g) The applicant is a fictitious person.
505 (h) The applicant has provided an address of legal
506 residence that is not his or her legal residence.
507 (i) The applicant has provided a driver license number,
508 Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of a
509 social security number that is not verifiable by the department.
510 (2) REMOVAL OF REGISTERED VOTERS.—
511 (c) Information received from the Department of Highway
512 Safety and Motor Vehicles indicating that a registered voter in
513 the state has obtained a driver license in another state shall
514 be considered a written request from the voter to have the
515 voter’s name removed from the statewide voter registration
516 system.
517 (4) STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF VALID RESIDENTIAL
518 STREET ADDRESSES.—
519 (a) The department shall compile and maintain a statewide
520 electronic database of valid residential street addresses from
521 the information provided by the supervisors of elections
522 pursuant to s. 98.015. The department shall evaluate the
523 information provided by the supervisors of elections to identify
524 any duplicate addresses and any address that may overlap county
525 boundaries. The department shall include in the database the
526 maximum number of occupants in accordance with the applicable
527 zoning regulations at each address. The department and
528 supervisors of elections shall use all available data sources
529 and methods to update mailing and registration addresses to be
530 accurate and CASS-compliant residential addresses. The
531 department shall adopt rules that specify such sources and
532 methods.
533 Section 10. Present subsection (7) of section 98.065,
534 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (9), and a new
535 subsection (7) and subsection (8) are added to that section, to
536 read:
537 98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
538 (7) The supervisor of elections shall at least quarterly
539 conduct bulk list maintenance by comparing the county voter roll
540 to customized reports from the Department of Highway Safety and
541 Motor Vehicles and other sources that may identify persons who
542 are not United States citizens, persons who have moved out of
543 state, persons who are deceased, and persons who are otherwise
544 ineligible.
545 (8) The supervisor of elections shall at least quarterly
546 analyze the voter registration database to determine addresses
547 with more registered voters than allowed by applicable zoning
548 regulations. If the number of registered voters exceeds the
549 number allowed by the applicable zoning regulations, all
550 available sources must be utilized to determine if any voters at
551 that addresses have moved or become ineligible. If a voter is
552 determined to have moved, the supervisor of elections must
553 adhere to the procedures provided in subsection (4). If a voter
554 is determined to be ineligible, the supervisor of elections must
555 adhere to the procedures for removal pursuant to s. 98.075(7).
556 Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
557 (6) of section 98.075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
558 98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
559 ineligibility determinations.—
560 (3) DECEASED PERSONS.—
561 (b) The supervisor shall remove the name of a deceased
562 registered voter from the statewide voter registration system
563 within 7 days after receipt of a copy of a death certificate
564 issued by a governmental agency authorized to issue death
565 certificates or verified with information from Department of
566 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records that the registered
567 voter is deceased.
568 (6) OTHER BASES FOR INELIGIBILITY.—Subsections (2)-(5) do
569 not limit or restrict the department or the supervisor in his or
570 her duty to act upon direct receipt of, access to, or knowledge
571 of information from any credible source governmental entity that
572 identifies a registered voter as potentially ineligible. If the
573 department or supervisor receives information from any credible
574 source governmental entity other than those identified in
575 subsections (2)-(5) that a registered voter is ineligible
576 because the voter is deceased, adjudicated a convicted felon
577 without having had his or her voting rights restored,
578 adjudicated mentally incapacitated without having had his or her
579 voting rights restored, does not meet the age requirement
580 pursuant to s. 97.041, is not a United States citizen, is a
581 fictitious person, has surrendered his or her driver license to
582 another state, or has listed an address that is not his or her
583 address of legal residence, the supervisor must adhere to the
584 procedures set forth in subsection (7) before the removal of the
585 name of a registered voter who is determined to be ineligible
586 from the statewide voter registration system.
587 (a) The following are deemed credible sources from which
588 the department or a supervisor may determine that an elector is
589 ineligible and subject to the procedures for removal set forth
590 in subsection (7) or has had a change of address and is subject
591 to the procedures required under s. 98.065(4):
592 1. An affidavit from a rental or group living facility
593 manager, verified with information from the Department of
594 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records, county tax records,
595 or other credible sources.
596 2. An affidavit from a homeowner association manager,
597 verified with information from the Department of Highway Safety
598 and Motor Vehicles records, county tax records, or other
599 credible sources.
600 3. An affidavit from a county resident, verified with
601 information from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
602 Vehicles records, county tax records, or other credible sources.
603 4. Social security death index licensees, provided that the
604 social security number matches the registered voter’s social
605 security number and the information is verified by the
606 department or Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
607 personnel with direct access to the social security death index
608 file.
609 (b) If the information from such an affidavit or licensee
610 cannot be verified using a second credible source, the
611 supervisor must send an address confirmation to the registered
612 voter. If the registered voter does not respond to the address
613 confirmation within 30 days, the supervisor must send an address
614 confirmation final notice to the registered voter.
615 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 98.093, Florida
616 Statutes, is amended to read:
617 98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
618 deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
619 persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not United
620 States citizens.—
621 (1) DUTIES.—In order to identify ineligible registered
622 voters and maintain accurate and current voter registration
623 records in the statewide voter registration system pursuant to
624 procedures in s. 98.065 or s. 98.075, it is necessary for the
625 department and supervisors of elections to receive or access
626 certain information from state and federal officials and
627 entities in the format prescribed. To the maximum extent
628 feasible, state and local government agencies shall facilitate
629 provision of information and access to data to the department
630 and supervisors of elections, including, but not limited to,
631 databases and customized reports in a format that can be used by
632 election officials to compare with voter registration data to
633 identify registered voters who are ineligible due to that
634 contain reliable criminal records, and records of deceased
635 status, surrendered driver licenses, a change of address, or
636 citizenship status persons. State and local government agencies
637 that provide such data must do so without charge if the direct
638 cost incurred by those agencies is not significant.
639 Section 13. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 98.255,
640 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
641 98.255 Voter education programs.—
642 (1) The Department of State shall adopt rules prescribing
643 minimum standards for nonpartisan voter education. The standards
644 shall, at a minimum, address all of the following:
645 (a) Voter registration.;
646 (b) Balloting procedures, by mail and polling place.;
647 (c) Voter rights and responsibilities.;
648 (d) Distribution of sample ballots.; and
649 (e) The importance of and method for updating a voter’s
650 voter registration information and mailing address.
651 (f) The importance of and method for canceling a voter
652 registration upon moving out of state.
653 (g)(e) Public service announcements.
654 (2) Each county supervisor shall implement the minimum
655 voter education standards, and shall conduct additional
656 nonpartisan education efforts as necessary to ensure that voters
657 have a working knowledge of the voting process. A county
658 supervisor must provide equal education on all methods of
659 voting.
660 Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.