Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1334
By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senator Grall
582-02507-26 20261334c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.021,
3 F.S.; revising definitions; amending s. 97.052, F.S.;
4 revising the information the statewide voter
5 registration application is designed to elicit from an
6 applicant to include a certain acknowledgment;
7 amending s. 97.0525, F.S.; requiring that the online
8 voter registration system transmit specified
9 information to the supervisor of elections under
10 specified circumstances; requiring that the
11 applicant’s legal status as a United States citizen be
12 recorded in the statewide voter registration system;
13 requiring that if the records of the Department of
14 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that an
15 applicant is not a United States citizen or has not
16 submitted evidence of citizenship, the online voter
17 registration system must notify the supervisor of the
18 applicant’s legal status and transmit the application
19 to the supervisor; providing that an applicant’s
20 digital signature satisfies a certain requirement;
21 providing that if an applicant’s name and date of
22 birth cannot be verified, the system must populate
23 certain information into a printable version of the
24 registration application; requiring the applicant to
25 print, complete, sign, date, and deliver such
26 application to the supervisor; requiring that the
27 online voter registration system populate an
28 applicant’s information and direct the applicant to
29 perform specified actions under specified conditions;
30 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 97.053,
31 F.S.; providing that applications to update a voter’s
32 record are retroactive under a specified condition;
33 requiring supervisors to verify a voter’s legal status
34 as a United States citizen using specified sources and
35 initiate a certain notice if applicable; amending s.
36 97.057, F.S.; requiring that an agreement between the
37 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and
38 the Department of State match information regarding
39 the legal status as a United States citizen of
40 applicants applying to vote; requiring the Department
41 of State to include specified information in the
42 statewide voter registration system; requiring the
43 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to
44 assist the Department of State in identifying certain
45 changes in information for persons who may be voters;
46 deleting a provision requiring the Department of State
47 to report certain changes to supervisors; amending s.
48 98.015, F.S.; authorizing the office of the supervisor
49 of elections to close to observe certain holidays
50 under a specified condition; amending s. 98.045, F.S.;
51 requiring supervisors to verify the current
52 eligibility of certain applicants within a specified
53 timeframe by reviewing specified information provided
54 by governmental entities to make a determination under
55 specified conditions; requiring the supervisor to deny
56 the application and notify the applicant if a certain
57 determination is made; amending s. 98.075, F.S.;
58 requiring the Department of State to identify certain
59 voters by comparing or receiving information from
60 specified sources; requiring the Department of State
61 to review such information and make an initial
62 determination; requiring the department to notify the
63 supervisor if certain information is credible and
64 reliable and provide a copy of specified documentation
65 to the supervisor; requiring the supervisor to adhere
66 to specified procedures to remove the voter’s name
67 from the statewide voter registration system;
68 specifying acceptable documents or evidence of United
69 States citizenship which must be recorded in the
70 statewide voter registration system; amending s.
71 98.093, F.S.; revising the information that the
72 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is
73 required to furnish weekly to the Department of State;
74 specifying documents acceptable as evidence of United
75 States citizenship; requiring the Department of State
76 to report certain information to supervisors within a
77 specified timeframe and for supervisors to update the
78 voter registration records; requiring that the
79 Department of State use certain information from
80 federal jury coordinators to identify voters and
81 applicants who are potentially ineligible; amending s.
82 99.012, F.S.; prohibiting a person from qualifying for
83 nomination as a candidate of a political party if the
84 person has not been a registered member of such party
85 for a specified timeframe; prohibiting a person from
86 qualifying for specified public office if the person
87 has changed his or her name within a specified
88 timeframe; providing applicability; amending s.
89 99.021, F.S.; revising the form of candidate oath to
90 conform to changes made by the act; amending ss.
91 101.151 and 101.5606, F.S.; conforming provisions to
92 changes made by the act; amending s. 101.56075, F.S.;
93 requiring that all voting be done by official ballot
94 using certain pens; providing an exception; amending
95 s. 101.5608, F.S.; deleting the requirement that the
96 stub be removed from the ballot and placed in an
97 envelope; conforming provisions to changes made by the
98 act; amending s. 101.5612, F.S.; conforming provisions
99 to changes made by the act; amending s. 102.111, F.S.;
100 revising the meeting times of the Elections Canvassing
101 Commission to certify elections returns; amending s.
102 102.141, F.S.; requiring that supervisors upload
103 certain results by a specified local time; requiring
104 the supervisors, on behalf of the canvassing boards,
105 to report all early voting and all tabulated vote-by
106 mail ballots to the department; requiring canvassing
107 boards to periodically report updated precinct
108 election results by uploading the results to the
109 department; conforming provisions to changes made by
110 the act; amending s. 102.166, F.S.; conforming
111 provisions to changes made by the act; creating s.
112 104.51, F.S.; requiring that certain prosecutions be
113 commenced within a specified timeframe after a
114 specified violation is committed; creating s. 322.034,
115 F.S.; requiring, by a specified date, that Florida
116 driver licenses and Florida identification cards
117 issued to qualified applicants include the legal
118 citizenship status of the applicant on the license or
119 card; requiring the Department of Highway Safety and
120 Motor Vehicles to issue, at no charge, Florida driver
121 licenses and Florida identification cards to certain
122 licensees and cardholders; amending s. 121.121, F.S.;
123 conforming a cross-reference; reenacting s. 98.065(6),
124 F.S., relating to registration list maintenance
125 programs, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
126 98.075, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
127 101.69(2)(a), F.S., relating to the offices of the
128 supervisor of elections being open during elections to
129 receive vote-by-mail ballots in secure ballot intake
130 stations, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
131 98.015, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
132 effective date.
133
134 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
135
136 Section 1. Subsections (6), (43), and (47) of section
137 97.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
138 97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except
139 where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
140 (6) “Ballot” or “official ballot” means a printed sheet of
141 paper containing contests, including offices and candidates,
142 constitutional amendments, and other public measures, upon which
143 a voter’s selections will be marked by using a pen compatible
144 with or recommended for use with the voting system, for
145 tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data processing
146 equipment that is part of the voting system. The term includes a
147 voter-verifiable paper output upon which a voter’s selections
148 are marked by a voter interface device that meets voter
149 accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities
150 under s. 301 of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s.
151 101.56062 when used in reference to:
152 (a) “Electronic or electromechanical devices” means a
153 ballot that is voted by the process of electronically
154 designating, including by touchscreen, or marking with a marking
155 device for tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data
156 processing equipment.
157 (b) “Marksense ballots” means that printed sheet of paper,
158 used in conjunction with an electronic or electromechanical vote
159 tabulation voting system, containing the names of candidates, or
160 a statement of proposed constitutional amendments or other
161 questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any
162 election, on which sheet of paper an elector casts his or her
163 vote.
164 (43) “Voter interface device” means any device that
165 communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a
166 voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates and
167 issues. A voter interface device may not be used to tabulate
168 votes. Any vote tabulation must be based upon a subsequent scan
169 of the marked marksense ballot or the voter-verifiable paper
170 output after the voter interface device process has been
171 completed.
172 (47) “Voting system” means a method of casting and
173 processing votes which that functions wholly or partly by use of
174 electromechanical or electronic apparatus or by use of marksense
175 ballots and includes, but is not limited to, the equipment,
176 hardware, firmware, and software; the ballots; the procedures
177 for casting and processing votes; and the programs, operating
178 manuals, and supplies; and the reports, printouts, and other
179 documentation software necessary for the system’s operation.
180 Section 2. Present paragraphs (q) through (u) of subsection
181 (2) of section 97.052, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
182 paragraphs (r) through (v), respectively, and a new paragraph
183 (q) is added to that subsection, to read:
184 97.052 Uniform statewide voter registration application.—
185 (2) The uniform statewide voter registration application
186 must be designed to elicit the following information from the
187 applicant:
188 (q) Acknowledgment, by providing a box for the applicant to
189 check, that it is a third degree felony under state and federal
190 law to falsely swear or affirm or otherwise submit false
191 information on a voter registration application.
192 Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 97.0525, Florida
193 Statutes, is amended to read:
194 97.0525 Online voter registration.—
195 (4)(a) The online voter registration system must shall
196 compare the Florida driver license number or Florida
197 identification number submitted pursuant to s. 97.052(2)(n) with
198 information maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and
199 Motor Vehicles to confirm that the name and date of birth on the
200 application are consistent with the records of the Department of
201 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
202 (b) If the applicant’s name and date of birth are
203 consistent with the records of the Department of Highway Safety
204 and Motor Vehicles and the records of the Department of Highway
205 Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that the applicant has
206 provided documents acceptable as evidence of United States
207 citizenship, the online voter registration system must shall
208 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
209 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
210 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
211 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
212 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
213 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
214 97.052(2)(r) s. 97.052(2)(q). The applicant’s legal status as a
215 United States citizen must be recorded in the statewide voter
216 registration system.
217 (c) If the applicant’s name and date of birth match the
218 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
219 but the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
220 Vehicles indicate the applicant is not a United States citizen
221 or has not provided documents acceptable as evidence of United
222 States citizenship, the online voter registration system must
223 notify the supervisor of elections that the applicant’s legal
224 status as a United States citizen could not be verified and
225 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
226 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
227 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
228 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
229 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
230 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
231 97.052(2)(r).
232 (d) If the applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be
233 verified by the records of the Department of Highway Safety and
234 Motor Vehicles, or if the applicant indicated that he or she has
235 not been issued a Florida driver license or Florida
236 identification card, the online voter registration system must
237 shall populate the applicant’s information, except for the
238 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
239 identification card number, or social security number, into a
240 printable voter registration application pursuant to s.
241 97.052(2) which and direct the applicant may to print, complete,
242 sign, and date, the application and deliver the application to
243 the supervisor of elections for disposition pursuant to s.
244 97.073.
245 (e) If the applicant indicates that he or she has not been
246 issued a Florida driver license or identification card, or
247 chooses to use the system to prepopulate an application to
248 print, sign, date, and deliver to the supervisor, the online
249 voter registration system must populate the applicant’s
250 information into a printable voter registration application
251 pursuant to s. 97.052(2) and direct the applicant to print,
252 sign, and date the application and deliver the application to
253 the supervisor for disposition under s. 97.073.
254 Section 4. Subsections (2), (4), and (6) of section 97.053,
255 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
256 97.053 Acceptance of voter registration applications.—
257 (2) A voter registration application is complete and
258 becomes the official voter registration record of that applicant
259 when all information necessary to establish the applicant’s
260 eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041 is received by a voter
261 registration official and verified pursuant to subsection (6).
262 Except as provided in subsection (6), if the applicant fails to
263 complete his or her voter registration application on or before
264 prior to the date of book closing for an election, then such
265 applicant is shall not be eligible to vote in that election.
266 (4)(a) The registration date for a valid initial voter
267 registration application that has been mailed to a driver
268 license office, a voter registration agency, an armed forces
269 recruitment office, the division, or the office of any
270 supervisor in the state and bears a clear postmark is the date
271 of that postmark. If an initial voter registration application
272 that has been mailed does not bear a postmark or if the postmark
273 is unclear, the registration date is the date the application is
274 received by any supervisor or the division, unless it is
275 received within 5 days after the closing of the books for an
276 election, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in
277 which case the registration date is the book-closing date.
278 (b) The registration date for a valid application to update
279 the voter’s record with a change of address, name, or party
280 affiliation is retroactive to the date the application was
281 initially received once the required sufficient evidence is
282 verified.
283 (6)(a) A voter registration application, including an
284 application with a change in name, address, or party
285 affiliation, may be accepted as valid only after the department
286 has verified the authenticity or nonexistence of the Florida
287 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
288 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
289 by the applicant. If a completed voter registration application
290 has been received by the book-closing deadline but the Florida
291 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
292 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
293 by the applicant cannot be verified, or if the records of the
294 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that
295 the applicant is not a United States citizen or has not provided
296 documents acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship,
297 the applicant must shall be notified and that the number cannot
298 be verified and that the applicant must provide evidence to the
299 supervisor sufficient to verify the authenticity of the
300 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
301 identification card number, or last four digits of the social
302 security number or, if applicable, must provide documents
303 acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship. If the
304 applicant provides the necessary evidence, the supervisor must
305 shall place the applicant’s name on the registration rolls as an
306 active voter. If the applicant has not provided the necessary
307 evidence or the number has not otherwise been verified prior to
308 the applicant presenting himself or herself to vote, the
309 applicant must shall be provided a provisional ballot. The
310 provisional ballot must shall be counted only if the number is
311 verified by the end of the canvassing period or if the applicant
312 presents evidence to the supervisor of elections sufficient to
313 verify the authenticity of the applicant’s Florida driver
314 license number, Florida identification card number, or last four
315 digits of the social security number or, if applicable, presents
316 documents acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship no
317 later than 5 p.m. of the second day following the election.
318 (b) Upon receipt of a voter registration application,
319 including an application with a change in name, address, or
320 party affiliation, which indicates that the applicant has not
321 been issued a current and valid Florida driver license, Florida
322 identification card, or social security number, or if the
323 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
324 indicate that the applicant is not a United States citizen or
325 has not provided documents acceptable as evidence of United
326 States citizenship, the supervisor of elections shall verify the
327 voter’s legal status as a United States citizen using available
328 state and federal governmental sources and, if applicable,
329 initiate notice pursuant to s. 98.075(7).
330 Section 5. Subsections (11) and (13) of section 97.057,
331 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
332 97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
333 Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
334 (11) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
335 shall enter into an agreement with the department to match
336 information in the statewide voter registration system with
337 information in the database of the Department of Highway Safety
338 and Motor Vehicles to the extent required to verify the accuracy
339 of the Florida driver license number, Florida identification
340 number, or last four digits of the social security number and
341 the legal status as a United States citizen, provided on
342 applications for voter registration as required in s. 97.053.
343 The department shall also include in the statewide voter
344 registration system the type of documentary proof that the
345 licensee or cardholder provided as evidence of United States
346 citizenship.
347 (13) Notwithstanding declinations to register or to update
348 a voter registration pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), the
349 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in accordance
350 with s. 98.093(8), shall must assist the Department of State in
351 regularly identifying changes in residence address on the
352 Florida driver license or Florida identification card or changes
353 in the Florida driver license or Florida identification card
354 number of such persons who may be voters of a voter. The
355 Department of State must report each such change to the
356 appropriate supervisor of elections who must change the voter’s
357 registration records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
358 Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 98.015, Florida
359 Statutes, is amended to read:
360 98.015 Supervisor of elections; election, tenure of office,
361 compensation, custody of registration-related documents, office
362 hours, successor, seal; appointment of deputy supervisors;
363 duties.—
364 (4)(a) At a minimum, the office of the supervisor must be
365 open Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, for a
366 period of not less than 8 hours per day, beginning no later than
367 9 a.m.
368 (b) The office of the supervisor may close to observe legal
369 holidays and other federal, state, or county-approved holidays,
370 if the office is not otherwise required to be open to fulfill
371 official duties under the Florida Election Code.
372 Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 98.045, Florida
373 Statutes, is amended to read:
374 98.045 Administration of voter registration.—
375 (1) ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANT.—
376 (a) The supervisor shall must ensure that any eligible
377 applicant for voter registration is registered to vote and that
378 each application for voter registration is processed in
379 accordance with law. The supervisor shall determine whether a
380 voter registration applicant is ineligible based on any of the
381 following:
382 1.(a) The failure to complete a voter registration
383 application as specified in s. 97.053.
384 2.(b) The applicant is deceased.
385 3.(c) The applicant has been convicted of a felony for
386 which his or her voting rights have not been restored.
387 4.(d) The applicant has been adjudicated mentally
388 incapacitated with respect to the right to vote and such right
389 has not been restored.
390 5.(e) The applicant does not meet the age requirement
391 pursuant to s. 97.041.
392 6.(f) The applicant is not a United States citizen.
393 7.(g) The applicant is a fictitious person.
394 8.(h) The applicant has provided an address of legal
395 residence that is not his or her legal residence.
396 9.(i) The applicant has provided a Florida driver license
397 number, Florida identification card number, or the last four
398 digits of a social security number that is not verifiable by the
399 department.
400 (b) If the latest voter registration records show that a
401 new applicant was previously registered but subsequently removed
402 for ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.075(7), the supervisor must
403 verify the current eligibility of the applicant to register
404 within 13 days after receipt of such records by reviewing the
405 information provided by a governmental entity listed in s.
406 98.075 or s. 98.093 to determine whether the applicant remains
407 ineligible. If the supervisor determines that the applicant is
408 ineligible, the supervisor must deny the application and notify
409 the applicant pursuant to s. 97.073.
410 Section 8. Subsection (6) and paragraph (a) of subsection
411 (7) of section 98.075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
412 98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
413 ineligibility determinations.—
414 (6) ELIGIBILITY.—
415 (a) Citizenship.—The department shall identify those
416 registered voters who are potentially ineligible based on their
417 legal status regarding United States citizenship by comparing or
418 receiving information from the Department of Highway Safety and
419 Motor Vehicles, clerks of state and federal courts, and the
420 United States Department of Homeland Security, as provided in s.
421 98.093. The department shall review such information and make an
422 initial determination as to whether the information is credible
423 and reliable. If the department determines that the information
424 is credible and reliable, the department must notify the
425 supervisor and provide a copy of the supporting documentation
426 indicating potential ineligibility of the voter to be
427 registered. Upon receipt of the notice that the department has
428 made a determination of initial credibility and reliability, the
429 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
430 (7) before the removal of a registered voter’s name from the
431 statewide voter registration system.
432 (b) Other bases for ineligibility OTHER BASES FOR
433 INELIGIBILITY.—Subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) do not limit or
434 restrict the department or the supervisor in his or her duty to
435 act upon direct receipt of, access to, or knowledge of
436 information from any governmental entity that identifies a
437 registered voter as potentially ineligible. If the department or
438 supervisor receives information from any governmental entity
439 other than those identified in subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) that
440 a registered voter is ineligible because the voter is deceased,
441 adjudicated a convicted felon without having had his or her
442 voting rights restored, adjudicated mentally incapacitated
443 without having had his or her voting rights restored, does not
444 meet the age requirement pursuant to s. 97.041, is not a United
445 States citizen, is a fictitious person, or has listed an address
446 that is not his or her address of legal residence, the
447 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
448 (7) before the removal of the name of a registered voter who is
449 determined to be ineligible from the statewide voter
450 registration system.
451 (7) PROCEDURES FOR REMOVAL.—
452 (a) If the supervisor receives notice or information
453 pursuant to subsections (4)-(6), the supervisor of the county in
454 which the voter is registered must:
455 1. Notify the registered voter of his or her potential
456 ineligibility by mail within 7 days after receipt of notice or
457 information. The notice must include:
458 a. A statement of the basis for the registered voter’s
459 potential ineligibility and a copy of any documentation upon
460 which the potential ineligibility is based. Such documentation
461 must include any conviction from another jurisdiction determined
462 to be a similar offense to murder or a felony sexual offense, as
463 those terms are defined in s. 98.0751.
464 b. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
465 receipt of the notice may result in a determination of
466 ineligibility and in removal of the registered voter’s name from
467 the statewide voter registration system.
468 c. A return form that requires the registered voter to
469 admit or deny the accuracy of the information underlying the
470 potential ineligibility for purposes of a final determination by
471 the supervisor.
472 d. A statement that, if the voter is denying the accuracy
473 of the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
474 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
475 determining eligibility.
476 e. Instructions for the registered voter to contact the
477 supervisor of elections of the county in which the voter is
478 registered if assistance is needed in resolving the matter.
479 f. Instructions for seeking restoration of civil rights
480 pursuant to s. 8, Art. IV of the State Constitution and
481 information explaining voting rights restoration pursuant to s.
482 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution following a felony
483 conviction, if applicable.
484 g. A list of the following acceptable documents or evidence
485 of United States citizenship which, if provided or used to
486 verify the voter as a United States citizen, must be recorded in
487 the statewide voter registration system:
488 (I) An original or certified copy of a United States birth
489 certificate.
490 (II) A valid, unexpired United States passport.
491 (III) A naturalization certificate issued by the United
492 States Department of Homeland Security.
493 (IV) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the
494 United States Department of State.
495 (V) A current and valid Florida driver license or Florida
496 identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety
497 and Motor Vehicles, if such driver license or identification
498 card indicates United States citizenship.
499 (VI) A current and valid photo identification issued by the
500 Federal Government or the state which indicates United States
501 citizenship.
502 (VII) An order from a federal court granting United States
503 citizenship.
504 (VIII) If the applicant’s legal name is different from the
505 name that appears on one of the documents specified in this sub
506 subparagraph, official legal documentation providing proof of
507 legal name change.
508 h. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
509 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
510 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
511 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
512 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
513 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
514 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
515 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
516 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
517 2. If the mailed notice is returned as undeliverable, the
518 supervisor must, within 14 days after receiving the returned
519 notice, either publish notice once in a newspaper of general
520 circulation in the county in which the voter was last registered
521 or publish notice on the county’s website as provided in s.
522 50.0311 or on the supervisor’s website, as deemed appropriate by
523 the supervisor. The notice must contain the following:
524 a. The voter’s name and address.
525 b. A statement that the voter is potentially ineligible to
526 be registered to vote.
527 c. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
528 the notice is published may result in a determination of
529 ineligibility by the supervisor and removal of the registered
530 voter’s name from the statewide voter registration system.
531 d. An instruction for the voter to contact the supervisor
532 no later than 30 days after the date of the published notice to
533 receive information regarding the basis for the potential
534 ineligibility and the procedure to resolve the matter.
535 e. An instruction to the voter that, if further assistance
536 is needed, the voter should contact the supervisor of elections
537 of the county in which the voter is registered.
538 f. A statement that, if the voter denies the accuracy of
539 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
540 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
541 determining eligibility.
542 g. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
543 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
544 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
545 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
546 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
547 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
548 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
549 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
550 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
551 3. If a registered voter fails to respond to a notice
552 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., the supervisor
553 must make a final determination of the voter’s eligibility
554 within 7 days after expiration of the voter’s timeframe to
555 respond. If the supervisor determines that the voter is
556 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the name of the
557 registered voter from the statewide voter registration system
558 within 7 days. The supervisor shall notify the registered voter
559 of the supervisor’s determination and action.
560 4. If a registered voter responds to the notice pursuant to
561 subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and admits the accuracy of
562 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
563 supervisor must, as soon as practicable, make a final
564 determination of ineligibility and remove the voter’s name from
565 the statewide voter registration system. The supervisor shall
566 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
567 and action.
568 5. If a registered voter responds to the notice issued
569 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and denies the
570 accuracy of the information underlying the potential
571 ineligibility but does not request a hearing, the supervisor
572 must review the evidence and make a determination of eligibility
573 no later than 30 days after receiving the response from the
574 voter. If the supervisor determines that the registered voter is
575 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the
576 statewide voter registration system upon such determination and
577 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
578 and action and that the removed voter has a right to appeal a
579 determination of ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.0755. If such
580 registered voter requests a hearing, the supervisor must send
581 notice to the registered voter to attend a hearing at a time and
582 place specified in the notice. The supervisor shall schedule and
583 issue notice for the hearing within 7 days after receiving the
584 voter’s request for a hearing and shall hold the hearing no
585 later than 30 days after issuing the notice of the hearing. A
586 voter may request an extension upon showing good cause by
587 submitting an affidavit to the supervisor as to why he or she is
588 unable to attend the scheduled hearing. Upon hearing all
589 evidence presented at the hearing, the supervisor shall make a
590 determination of eligibility within 7 days. If the supervisor
591 determines that the registered voter is ineligible, the
592 supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the statewide voter
593 registration system and notify the registered voter of the
594 supervisor’s determination and action and that the removed voter
595 has a right to appeal a determination of ineligibility pursuant
596 to s. 98.0755.
597 Section 9. Present subsection (9) of section 98.093,
598 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (10), a new
599 subsection (9) is added to that section, and subsection (8) of
600 that section is amended, to read:
601 98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
602 deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
603 persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not United
604 States citizens.—
605 (8) DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES.—The
606 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall furnish
607 weekly to the department the following information:
608 (a) Information identifying those persons whose names have
609 been removed from the Florida driver license or Florida
610 identification card database during the preceding week because
611 they have been licensed or been issued an identification card in
612 another state. The information must contain the person’s name,
613 last known Florida address, date of birth, sex, last four digits
614 of his or her social security number, and Florida driver license
615 number or Florida identification card number and, if available,
616 the address and the state in which the person is now licensed.
617 (b) Information identifying those persons who during the
618 preceding week presented evidence of non-United States
619 citizenship upon being issued a new or renewed Florida driver
620 license or Florida identification card. The information must
621 contain the person’s name; address; date of birth; last four
622 digits of the social security number, if applicable; Florida
623 driver license number or Florida identification card number, as
624 available; and alien registration number or other legal status
625 identifier.
626 (c) Information identifying those persons who during the
627 preceding week presented documents acceptable as evidence of
628 United States citizenship upon being issued a new, renewed, or
629 replacement Florida driver license or Florida identification
630 card. The information must contain the person’s name; address;
631 date of birth; last four digits of the social security number,
632 if applicable; Florida driver license number or Florida
633 identification card number, as available; the type of
634 documentary proof provided in support of citizenship; and, if
635 applicable, the alien registration number or other legal status
636 identifier. Any of the following documents are acceptable as
637 evidence of United States citizenship:
638 1. An original or certified copy of a United States birth
639 certificate.
640 2. A valid, unexpired United States passport.
641 3. A naturalization certificate issued by the United States
642 Department of Homeland Security.
643 4. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the United
644 States Department of State.
645 5. A current and valid Florida driver license or Florida
646 identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety
647 and Motor Vehicles, if such driver license or identification
648 card indicates United States citizenship.
649 6. A current and valid photo identification issued by the
650 Federal Government or the state which indicates United States
651 citizenship.
652 7. An order from a federal court granting United States
653 citizenship.
654 8. If the applicant’s legal name is different from the name
655 that appears on one of the documents specified in this
656 paragraph, official legal documentation providing for proof of
657 legal name change.
658 (d) Information identifying a change in residence address
659 on the Florida driver license or Florida identification card of
660 any person who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to register or
661 update his or her voter record. The information must contain the
662 person’s name; date of birth; sex; last four digits of the
663 social security number, if available; and Florida driver license
664 or Florida identification card number, as available, in order to
665 identify a voter’s registration record. The Department of State
666 must report each such change in residence address to the
667 appropriate supervisor, who must change the voter’s registration
668 records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
669 (e) Information identifying new, renewed, or replacement
670 Florida driver license or Florida identification card numbers
671 issued to persons who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to
672 register or update their voter record. The information must
673 contain the person’s name; date of birth; last four digits of
674 the social security number, if available; and the prior, if
675 applicable, and current Florida driver license or Florida
676 identification card number in order to identify a voter’s
677 registration record. Within 7 days, the Department of State
678 shall report such information to the appropriate supervisor, who
679 must update the voter registration records.
680 (f) Information identifying those persons for which it has
681 received official information during the preceding week that the
682 person is deceased. The information must contain the name,
683 address, date of birth, last four digits of the social security
684 number, Florida driver license number or Florida identification
685 card number, and date of death of each such person.
686 (9) FEDERAL COURTS.—Upon receipt of information from a jury
687 coordinator that a person was disqualified or potentially
688 disqualified as a prospective juror from jury service due to not
689 having United States citizenship, being convicted of a felony,
690 being deceased, being a nonresident of this state, or being a
691 nonresident of the county, the department shall use such
692 information to identify registered voters or applicants for
693 voter registration who may be potentially ineligible based on
694 information provided in accordance with s. 98.075.
695 Section 10. Present subsections (5) through (8) of section
696 99.012, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7)
697 through (10), respectively, and new subsections (5) and (6) are
698 added to that section, to read:
699 99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
700 office.—
701 (5) A person may not qualify for nomination as a candidate
702 of a political party if he or she has not been a registered
703 member of that party for the 365-day period preceding the
704 beginning of qualifying; or as a candidate with no party
705 affiliation if he or she has not been registered without party
706 affiliation, or has been a registered member of any political
707 party, for the 365-day period preceding the beginning of
708 qualifying.
709 (6) A person may not qualify as a candidate for public
710 office, whether federal, state, district, county, or municipal,
711 if he or she has legally changed his or her name through a
712 petition pursuant to s. 68.07 during the 365-day period
713 preceding the beginning of qualifying. This subsection does not
714 apply to any change of name in proceedings for dissolution of
715 marriage or adoption of children or based on a change of name
716 conducted with a marriage certificate.
717 Section 11. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
718 section 99.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
719 99.021 Form of candidate oath.—
720 (1)
721 (b) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for
722 nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the
723 time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in
724 writing:
725 1. The party of which the person is a member.
726 2. That the person has been a registered member of the
727 political party for which he or she is seeking nomination as a
728 candidate for at least 365 consecutive days preceding before the
729 beginning of qualifying before preceding the general election
730 for which the person seeks to qualify.
731 3. That the person has paid the assessment levied against
732 him or her, if any, as a candidate for said office by the
733 executive committee of the party of which he or she is a member.
734 (c) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for office
735 as a candidate with no party affiliation shall, at the time of
736 subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing that he
737 or she is registered without any party affiliation and that he
738 or she has not been a registered member of any political party
739 for at least 365 consecutive days preceding before the beginning
740 of qualifying before preceding the general election for which
741 the person seeks to qualify.
742 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 101.151, Florida
743 Statutes, is amended to read:
744 101.151 Specifications for ballots.—
745 (1)(a) Marksense Ballots must shall be printed on paper of
746 such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from
747 the back and must shall meet the specifications of the voting
748 system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.
749 (b) Polling places and early voting sites may employ a
750 ballot-on-demand production system to print individual marksense
751 ballots, including provisional ballots, for eligible electors.
752 Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce marksense
753 vote-by-mail, early voting, and election-day ballots.
754 Section 13. Subsection (4) of section 101.5606, Florida
755 Statutes, is amended to read:
756 101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.—No
757 electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved
758 by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that:
759 (4) For systems using marksense ballots, It accepts a
760 rejected ballot pursuant to subsection (3) if a voter chooses to
761 cast the ballot, but records no vote for any office that has
762 been overvoted or undervoted.
763 Section 14. Section 101.56075, Florida Statutes, is amended
764 to read:
765 101.56075 Voting methods.—For the purpose of designating
766 ballot selections, all voting must be by official marksense
767 ballot, using a pen compatible with or recommended for use with
768 the voting system, unless a voter requests to vote using marking
769 device or a voter interface device that produces a voter
770 verifiable paper output and meets the voter accessibility
771 requirements for individuals with disabilities under s. 301 of
772 the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s. 101.56062.
773 Section 15. Section 101.5608, Florida Statutes, is amended
774 to read:
775 101.5608 Voting at the polls by electronic or
776 electromechanical method; procedures.—
777 (1) Each voter elector desiring to vote must shall be
778 identified to the clerk or inspector of the election as a duly
779 qualified voter elector of such election and must shall sign his
780 or her name on the precinct register or other form or device
781 provided by the supervisor. The inspector shall compare the
782 signature with the signature on the identification provided by
783 the voter elector. If the inspector is reasonably sure that the
784 person is entitled to vote, the inspector must shall provide the
785 person with a ballot.
786 (2) When an electronic or electromechanical voting system
787 uses utilizes a ballot card or marksense ballot, the following
788 procedures must shall be followed:
789 (a) After receiving a ballot from an inspector, the voter
790 elector shall, without leaving the polling place, retire to a
791 booth or compartment and mark the ballot. After marking his or
792 her ballot, the voter must elector shall place the ballot in a
793 secrecy envelope so that the ballot will be deposited in the
794 tabulator without exposing the voter’s choices.
795 (b) Any voter who spoils his or her ballot or makes an
796 error may return the ballot to the election official and secure
797 another ballot, except that in no case shall a voter be
798 furnished more than three ballots. If the vote tabulation device
799 has rejected a ballot, the ballot must shall be considered
800 spoiled and a new ballot must shall be provided to the voter
801 unless the voter chooses to cast the rejected ballot. The
802 election official, without examining the original ballot, shall
803 state the possible reasons for the rejection and shall provide
804 instruction to the voter pursuant to s. 101.5611. A spoiled
805 ballot must shall be preserved, without examination, in an
806 envelope provided for that purpose. The stub shall be removed
807 from the ballot and placed in an envelope.
808 (c) The supervisor of elections shall prepare for each
809 polling place at least one ballot box to contain the ballots of
810 a particular precinct, and each ballot box must shall be plainly
811 marked with the name of the precinct for which it is intended.
812 (3) The Department of State shall promulgate rules
813 regarding voting procedures to be used when an electronic or
814 electromechanical voting system is of a type which does not use
815 utilize a ballot card or marksense ballot.
816 (4) In any election in which a write-in candidate has
817 qualified for office, the supervisor of elections shall provide
818 for write-in voting pursuant to rules adopted by the Division of
819 Elections.
820 Section 16. Subsection (5) of section 101.5612, Florida
821 Statutes, is amended to read:
822 101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.—
823 (5) Any tests involving marksense ballots pursuant to this
824 section must shall employ test ballots created by the supervisor
825 of elections using actual ballots that have been printed for the
826 election. If ballot-on-demand ballots will be used in the
827 election, the supervisor must shall also create test ballots
828 using the ballot-on-demand technology that will be used to
829 produce ballots in the election, using the same paper stock as
830 will be used for ballots in the election.
831 Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 102.111, Florida
832 Statutes, is amended to read:
833 102.111 Elections Canvassing Commission.—
834 (2) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall meet at 8
835 a.m. on the 9th day after a primary election and at 8 a.m. on
836 the 14th day after a general election to certify the returns of
837 the election for each federal, state, and multicounty office and
838 for each constitutional amendment. The meeting must be at 9
839 a.m., except for days the Legislature convenes for organization
840 session pursuant to s. 3(a), Art. III of the State Constitution,
841 on which days the meeting must be at 8 a.m. If a member of a
842 county canvassing board that was constituted pursuant to s.
843 102.141 determines, within 5 days after the certification by the
844 Elections Canvassing Commission, that a typographical error
845 occurred in the official returns of the county, the correction
846 of which could result in a change in the outcome of an election,
847 the county canvassing board must certify corrected returns to
848 the Department of State within 24 hours, and the Elections
849 Canvassing Commission must correct and recertify the election
850 returns as soon as practicable.
851 Section 18. Subsections (3) through (7) of section 102.141,
852 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
853 102.141 County canvassing board; duties.—
854 (3) The canvass, except the canvass of absent voters’
855 electors’ returns and the canvass of provisional ballots, must
856 shall be made from the returns and certificates of the
857 inspectors as signed and filed by them with the supervisor, and
858 the county canvassing board may shall not change the number of
859 votes cast for a candidate, nominee, constitutional amendment,
860 or other measure submitted to the electorate of the county,
861 respectively, in any polling place, as shown by the returns. All
862 returns must shall be made to the board on or before 2 a.m. of
863 the day following any primary, general, or other election. If
864 the returns from any precinct are missing, if there are any
865 omissions on the returns from any precinct, or if there is an
866 obvious error on any such returns, the canvassing board must
867 shall order a retabulation of the returns from such precinct.
868 Before canvassing such returns, the canvassing board shall
869 examine the tabulation of the ballots cast in such precinct and
870 determine whether the returns correctly reflect the votes cast.
871 If there is a discrepancy between the returns and the tabulation
872 of the ballots cast, the tabulation of the ballots cast must
873 shall be presumed correct and such votes must shall be canvassed
874 accordingly.
875 (4)(a) The supervisor of elections shall upload into the
876 county’s election management system by 7 p.m. local time on the
877 day before the election the results of all early voting and
878 vote-by-mail ballots that have been canvassed and tabulated by
879 the end of the early voting period. Pursuant to ss. 101.5614(8),
880 101.657, and 101.68(2), the tabulation of votes cast or the
881 results of such uploads may not be made public before the close
882 of the polls on election day.
883 (b) The supervisor, on behalf of the canvassing board,
884 shall report all early voting and all tabulated vote-by-mail
885 results to the Department of State within 30 minutes after the
886 polls close. Thereafter, the canvassing board shall report, with
887 the exception of provisional ballot results, updated precinct
888 election results by uploading such results to the department at
889 least every 45 minutes until all results are completely
890 reported. The supervisor of elections shall notify the
891 department immediately of any circumstances that do not permit
892 periodic updates as required. Results must shall be submitted in
893 a format prescribed by the department.
894 (5) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
895 formats provided by the division unofficial returns to the
896 Department of State for each federal, statewide, state, or
897 multicounty office or ballot measure no later than noon on the
898 third day after any primary election and no later than noon on
899 the fourth day after any general or other election. Such returns
900 must shall include the canvass of all ballots, including write
901 in votes, as required by subsection (2).
902 (6) If the county canvassing board determines that the
903 unofficial returns may contain a counting error in which the
904 vote tabulation system failed to count votes that were properly
905 marked in accordance with the instructions on the ballot, the
906 county canvassing board must shall:
907 (a) Correct the error and retabulate the affected ballots
908 with the vote tabulation system; or
909 (b) Request that the Department of State verify the
910 tabulation software. When the Department of State verifies such
911 software, the department shall compare the software used to
912 tabulate the votes with the software filed with the department
913 pursuant to s. 101.5607 and check the election parameters.
914 (7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for
915 any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent
916 or less of the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for
917 retention to a judicial office was retained or not retained by
918 one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question
919 of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was
920 approved or rejected by one-half of a percent or less of the
921 votes cast on such measure, a recount shall be ordered of the
922 votes cast with respect to such office or measure. The Secretary
923 of State is responsible for ordering recounts in races that are
924 federal or, state races that are, and multicounty and any other
925 multicounty races. The county canvassing board or the local
926 board responsible for certifying the election is responsible for
927 ordering recounts in all other races. A recount need not be
928 ordered with respect to the returns for any office, however, if
929 the candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
930 contention for such office by one-half of a percent or less of
931 the votes cast for such office request in writing that a recount
932 not be made.
933 (a) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
934 recount shall put each marksense ballot through automatic
935 tabulating equipment and determine whether the returns correctly
936 reflect the votes cast. If any marksense ballot is physically
937 damaged so that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic
938 tabulating equipment during the recount, a true duplicate shall
939 be made of the damaged ballot pursuant to the procedures in s.
940 101.5614(4). Immediately before the start of the recount, a test
941 of the tabulating equipment shall be conducted as provided in s.
942 101.5612. If the test indicates no error, the recount tabulation
943 of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and such votes
944 shall be canvassed accordingly. If an error is detected, the
945 cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and the
946 recount repeated, as necessary. The canvassing board shall
947 immediately report the error, along with the cause of the error
948 and the corrective measures being taken, to the Department of
949 State. No later than 11 days after the election, the canvassing
950 board shall file a separate incident report with the Department
951 of State, detailing the resolution of the matter and identifying
952 any measures that will avoid a future recurrence of the error.
953 If the automatic tabulating equipment used in a recount is not
954 part of the voting system and the ballots have already been
955 processed through such equipment, the canvassing board is not
956 required to put each ballot through any automatic tabulating
957 equipment again.
958 (b) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
959 recount where touchscreen ballots were used shall examine the
960 counters on the precinct tabulators to ensure that the total of
961 the returns on the precinct tabulators equals the overall
962 election return. If there is a discrepancy between the overall
963 election return and the counters of the precinct tabulators, the
964 counters of the precinct tabulators shall be presumed correct
965 and such votes shall be canvassed accordingly.
966 (c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
967 formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial
968 returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide,
969 state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns
970 shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th day after any
971 primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th day after
972 any general election in which a recount was ordered by the
973 Secretary of State. If the canvassing board is unable to
974 complete the recount prescribed in this subsection by the
975 deadline, the second set of unofficial returns submitted by the
976 canvassing board shall be identical to the initial unofficial
977 returns and the submission shall also include a detailed
978 explanation of why it was unable to timely complete the recount.
979 However, the canvassing board shall complete the recount
980 prescribed in this subsection, along with any manual recount
981 prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify election returns in
982 accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
983 (d) The Department of State shall adopt detailed rules
984 prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified
985 voting system, which shall be uniform to the extent practicable.
986 Section 19. Section 102.166, Florida Statutes, is amended
987 to read:
988 102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.—
989 (1) If the second set of unofficial returns pursuant to ss.
990 101.591 and 102.141, s. 102.141 indicates that a candidate for
991 any office was defeated or eliminated by one-quarter of a
992 percent or less of the votes cast for such office, that a
993 candidate for retention to a judicial office was retained or not
994 retained by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes cast
995 on the question of retention, or that a measure appearing on the
996 ballot was approved or rejected by one-quarter of a percent or
997 less of the votes cast on such measure, a manual recount of the
998 overvotes and undervotes cast in the entire geographic
999 jurisdiction of such office or ballot measure must shall be
1000 ordered unless:
1001 (a) The candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
1002 contention by one-quarter of 1 percent or fewer of the votes
1003 cast for such office request in writing that a recount not be
1004 made; or
1005 (b) The number of overvotes and undervotes is fewer than
1006 the number of votes needed to change the outcome of the
1007 election.
1008
1009 The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering a manual
1010 recount for federal or, state races that are multicounty, and
1011 any other multicounty races. The county canvassing board or
1012 local board responsible for certifying the election is
1013 responsible for ordering a manual recount for all other races. A
1014 manual recount consists of a recount of marksense ballots or of
1015 digital images of those ballots by a person.
1016 Section 20. Section 104.51, Florida Statutes, is created to
1017 read:
1018 104.51 Time limitation; election fraud.—A prosecution for a
1019 felony violation under the Florida Election Code must be
1020 commenced within 5 years after the date the violation is
1021 committed.
1022 Section 21. Section 322.034, Florida Statutes, is created
1023 to read:
1024 322.034 Legal status designation on state-issued driver
1025 licenses and identification cards.—
1026 (1) By July 1, 2027, a Florida driver license or Florida
1027 identification card issued to a qualified applicant who is a
1028 United States citizen as last recorded in the system must
1029 include his or her legal citizenship status at the time of new
1030 issuance, renewal, or replacement.
1031 (2) Notwithstanding any other law, the department must, at
1032 no charge, issue a renewal or replacement driver license or
1033 identification card if a licensee or cardholder timely updates
1034 his or her legal status upon becoming a citizen of the United
1035 States as required in s. 322.19.
1036 Section 22. Subsection (2) of section 121.121, Florida
1037 Statutes, is amended to read:
1038 121.121 Authorized leaves of absence.—
1039 (2) A member who is required to resign his or her office as
1040 a subordinate officer, deputy sheriff, or police officer because
1041 he or she is a candidate for a public office which is currently
1042 held by his or her superior officer who is also a candidate for
1043 reelection to the same office, in accordance with s. 99.012(7)
1044 s. 99.012(5), shall, upon return to covered employment, be
1045 eligible to purchase retirement credit for the period between
1046 his or her date of resignation and the beginning of the term of
1047 office for which he or she was a candidate as a leave of absence
1048 without pay, as provided in subsection (1).
1049 Section 23. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1050 made by this act to section 98.075, Florida Statutes, in a
1051 reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 98.065, Florida
1052 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1053 98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
1054 (6) The supervisor shall, at a minimum, conduct an annual
1055 review of voter registration records to identify registration
1056 records in which a voter is registered at an address that may
1057 not be an address of legal residence for the voter. For those
1058 registration records with such addresses that the supervisor has
1059 reasonable belief are not legal residential addresses, the
1060 supervisor shall initiate list maintenance activities pursuant
1061 to s. 98.075(6) and (7).
1062 Section 24. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1063 made by this act to section 98.015, Florida Statutes, in a
1064 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
1065 101.69, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1066 101.69 Voting in person; return of vote-by-mail ballot.—
1067 (2)(a) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has
1068 received a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted
1069 vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor by placing the return mail
1070 envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a secure ballot
1071 intake station. Secure ballot intake stations shall be placed at
1072 the main office of the supervisor, at each permanent branch
1073 office of the supervisor which meets the criteria set forth in
1074 s. 101.657(1)(a) for branch offices used for early voting and
1075 which is open for at least the minimum number of hours
1076 prescribed by s. 98.015(4), and at each early voting site.
1077 Secure ballot intake stations may also be placed at any other
1078 site that would otherwise qualify as an early voting site under
1079 s. 101.657(1). Secure ballot intake stations must be
1080 geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county
1081 with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is
1082 practicable. Except for secure ballot intake stations at an
1083 office of the supervisor, a secure ballot intake station may
1084 only be used during the county’s early voting hours of operation
1085 and must be monitored in person by an employee of the
1086 supervisor’s office. A secure ballot intake station at an office
1087 of the supervisor must be continuously monitored in person by an
1088 employee of the supervisor’s office when the secure ballot
1089 intake station is accessible for deposit of ballots.
1090 Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.