Florida Senate - 2017                                     SB 544
       
       
        
       By Senator Braynon
       
       35-00331-17                                            2017544__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to vote-by-mail ballots; amending s.
    3         101.68, F.S.; requiring a supervisor of elections to
    4         allow submission of an affidavit to cure signature
    5         discrepancies on a vote-by-mail ballot; correcting a
    6         scrivener’s error; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
   11  101.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         101.68 Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot.—
   13         (4)
   14         (b) Until 5 p.m. on the day before an election, the
   15  supervisor shall allow an elector who has returned a vote-by
   16  mail ballot that does not include the elector’s signature, or
   17  that was rejected due to a difference between the elector’s
   18  signature on the voter’s certificate or vote-by-mail ballot
   19  affidavit and the elector’s signature in the registration books
   20  or precinct register, to complete and submit an affidavit in
   21  order to cure the unsigned vote-by-mail ballot.
   22         (d) Instructions must accompany the vote-by-mail ballot
   23  affidavit in substantially the following form:
   24  
   25         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE
   26  AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
   27  BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
   28  
   29         1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
   30  counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon
   31  as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of
   32  the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5
   33  p.m. on the 2nd day before the election.
   34         2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
   35  Signature).
   36         3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of
   37  identification:
   38         a. Identification that includes your name and photograph:
   39  United States passport; debit or credit card; military
   40  identification; student identification; retirement center
   41  identification; neighborhood association identification; public
   42  assistance identification; veteran health identification card
   43  issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; a
   44  Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or an
   45  employee identification card issued by any branch, department,
   46  agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a
   47  county, or a municipality; or
   48         b. Identification that shows your name and current
   49  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
   50  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
   51  voter identification card).
   52         4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing
   53  envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your
   54  identification in the mailing envelope. Mail, deliver, or have
   55  delivered the completed affidavit along with the copy of your
   56  identification to your county supervisor of elections. Be sure
   57  there is sufficient postage if mailed and that the supervisor’s
   58  address is correct.
   59         5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed
   60  affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of
   61  elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as
   62  attachments.
   63         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.