Florida Senate - 2014                                     SB 784
       
       
        
       By Senator Clemens
       
       
       
       
       
       27-01211-14                                            2014784__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to online voter registration; creating
    3         s. 97.0525, F.S.; requiring the Department of State to
    4         develop an online voter registration system; providing
    5         application requirements for the system; requiring the
    6         Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to
    7         verify information submitted online; requiring
    8         supervisors of elections to notify applicants in
    9         certain situations; requiring system compliance with
   10         federal accessibility provisions; providing an
   11         effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Section 97.0525, Florida Statutes, is created to
   16  read:
   17         97.0525 Online voter registration.—
   18         (1) Beginning January 1, 2015, an applicant may submit an
   19  online voter registration application using the procedures set
   20  forth in this section.
   21         (2) The division shall establish a secure Internet website
   22  to permit an applicant to:
   23         (a) Submit a voter registration application, including
   24  first-time voter registration applications and updates to
   25  existing voter registration records.
   26         (b) Submit information necessary to establish an
   27  applicant’s eligibility to vote, pursuant to s. 97.041, which
   28  must include the information required for the uniform statewide
   29  voter registration application pursuant to s. 97.052(2).
   30         (c) Swear to the oath required pursuant to s. 97.051.
   31         (3) The division shall establish appropriate technological
   32  security measures, including use of a unique identifier for each
   33  applicant, to prevent unauthorized persons from altering a
   34  voter’s registration information.
   35         (4)(a) The online voter registration system shall compare
   36  the Florida driver license number or Florida identification
   37  number submitted pursuant to s. 97.052(2)(n), unless the
   38  applicant indicates pursuant to s. 97.052(2)(o) that he or she
   39  has not been issued a Florida driver license or Florida
   40  identification card, with information maintained by the
   41  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to confirm that
   42  the name and date of birth on the application are consistent
   43  with the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
   44  Vehicles.
   45         (b) If the applicant’s name and date of birth are
   46  consistent with the records of the Department of Highway Safety
   47  and Motor Vehicles, the online voter registration system shall
   48  transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
   49  maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s submission,
   50  along with the digital signature of the applicant on file with
   51  the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to the
   52  supervisor of elections of the county in which the applicant
   53  resides. The applicant’s digital signature shall satisfy the
   54  signature requirement of s. 97.052(2)(q).
   55         (c) If the applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be
   56  verified by the records of the Department of Highway Safety and
   57  Motor Vehicles, or the applicant indicated that he or she has
   58  not been issued a Florida driver license or Florida
   59  identification card, but the applicant is otherwise eligible to
   60  vote, the online voter registration system shall issue a unique
   61  identification number and submit the application to the
   62  supervisor of elections for the county in which the voter
   63  resides, for disposition pursuant to s. 97.073.
   64         (d) If the applicant does not have a digital signature on
   65  file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
   66  the online voter registration system shall transmit the
   67  application as provided in paragraph (b), and the appropriate
   68  supervisor of elections shall send the applicant a notice
   69  pursuant to s. 97.073, informing the applicant that a signature
   70  is needed to complete the application. A notice provided under
   71  this paragraph shall consist of a form adopted by the division,
   72  delivered by postcard with postage prepaid. The form shall
   73  provide a space for the applicant to provide a signature and
   74  shall provide clear instructions to the applicant to return the
   75  card promptly to the supervisor of elections. The form shall
   76  contain a clear statement that, in order to complete the
   77  application, the signature must be supplied to the supervisor of
   78  elections by the registration deadline, and the deadline shall
   79  be included.
   80         (5) Upon submission of a completed online voter
   81  registration application, the website shall generate an
   82  immediate electronic confirmation that the supervisor has
   83  received the application and shall provide instructions
   84  regarding the ability of a registrant to check the status of the
   85  application thereafter.
   86         (6) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
   87  supervisor of elections shall process the application pursuant
   88  to s. 97.053.
   89         (7) The website shall comply with requirements of s. 508 of
   90  the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans
   91  with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to voters with
   92  disabilities. The division shall include accessibility experts
   93  in the development of the online voter registration system and
   94  website, and the system’s accessibility shall be verified by an
   95  independent body with expertise on the matter.
   96         (8) No legal distinction shall be made between online
   97  registration under this section and registration in person, by
   98  mail, or other methods provided by general law.
   99         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.