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.