Florida Senate - 2026 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 991, 1st Eng.
Ì903278BÎ903278
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/RE/2R .
03/11/2026 02:28 PM .
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Senator Grall moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Present subsections (10) through (47) of section
6 97.021, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (11)
7 through (48), respectively, a new subsection (10) is added to
8 that section, and subsection (6) and present subsections (43)
9 and (47) of that section are amended, to read:
10 97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except
11 where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
12 (6) “Ballot” or “official ballot” means a printed sheet of
13 paper containing contests, including offices and candidates,
14 constitutional amendments, and other public measures, upon which
15 a voter’s selections will be marked by using a pen compatible
16 with or recommended for use with the voting system, for
17 tabulation by the voting system. The term includes a voter
18 verifiable paper output upon which a voter’s selections are
19 marked by a voter interface device that meets voter
20 accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities
21 under s. 301 of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s.
22 101.56062 when used in reference to:
23 (a) “Electronic or electromechanical devices” means a
24 ballot that is voted by the process of electronically
25 designating, including by touchscreen, or marking with a marking
26 device for tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data
27 processing equipment.
28 (b) “Marksense ballots” means that printed sheet of paper,
29 used in conjunction with an electronic or electromechanical vote
30 tabulation voting system, containing the names of candidates, or
31 a statement of proposed constitutional amendments or other
32 questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any
33 election, on which sheet of paper an elector casts his or her
34 vote.
35 (10) “Document acceptable as evidence of United States
36 citizenship” means any of the following documents:
37 (a) An original or certified copy of a United States birth
38 certificate.
39 (b) A valid, unexpired United States passport.
40 (c) A naturalization certificate issued by the United
41 States Department of Homeland Security.
42 (d) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the
43 United States Department of State.
44 (e) A current and valid Florida driver license or Florida
45 identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety
46 and Motor Vehicles, if such license or identification card
47 indicates United States citizenship.
48 (f) A current and valid photo identification issued by the
49 Federal Government or the state which indicates United States
50 citizenship.
51 (g) An order from a federal court granting United States
52 citizenship.
53
54 If the voter registration applicant’s or the voter’s legal name
55 is different from the name that appears on the document,
56 official legal documentation providing proof of legal name
57 change is also required to constitute acceptable evidence of
58 United States citizenship.
59 (44)(43) “Voter interface device” means any device that
60 communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a
61 voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates and
62 issues. A voter interface device may not be used to tabulate
63 votes. Any vote tabulation must be based upon a subsequent scan
64 of the marked marksense ballot or the voter-verifiable paper
65 output after the voter interface device process has been
66 completed.
67 (48)(47) “Voting system” means a method of casting and
68 processing votes which that functions wholly or partly by use of
69 electromechanical or electronic apparatus or by use of marksense
70 ballots and includes, but is not limited to, the equipment,
71 hardware, firmware, and software; the ballots; the procedures
72 for casting and processing votes; and the programs, operating
73 manuals, and supplies; and the reports, printouts, and other
74 documentation software necessary for the system’s operation.
75 Section 2. Present paragraphs (q) through (u) of subsection
76 (2) of section 97.052, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
77 paragraphs (r) through (v), respectively, and a new paragraph
78 (q) is added to that subsection, to read:
79 97.052 Uniform statewide voter registration application.—
80 (2) The uniform statewide voter registration application
81 must be designed to elicit the following information from the
82 applicant:
83 (q) Acknowledgment, by providing a box for the applicant to
84 check, that it is a third degree felony under state and federal
85 law to falsely swear or affirm or otherwise submit false
86 information on a voter registration application.
87 Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 97.0525, Florida
88 Statutes, is amended to read:
89 97.0525 Online voter registration.—
90 (4)(a) The online voter registration system must shall
91 compare the Florida driver license number or Florida
92 identification number submitted pursuant to s. 97.052(2)(n) with
93 information maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and
94 Motor Vehicles to confirm that the name and date of birth on the
95 application are consistent with the records of the Department of
96 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
97 (b) If the applicant’s name and date of birth are
98 consistent with the records of the Department of Highway Safety
99 and Motor Vehicles and the records of the Department of Highway
100 Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that the applicant has
101 provided a document acceptable as evidence of United States
102 citizenship, the online voter registration system must shall
103 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
104 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
105 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
106 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
107 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
108 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
109 97.052(2)(r) s. 97.052(2)(q). The applicant’s legal status as a
110 United States citizen must be recorded in the statewide voter
111 registration system.
112 (c) If the applicant’s name and date of birth match the
113 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
114 but the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
115 Vehicles indicate the applicant is not a United States citizen
116 or has not provided a document acceptable as evidence of United
117 States citizenship, the online voter registration system must
118 notify the supervisor of elections that the applicant’s legal
119 status as a United States citizen could not be verified and
120 transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
121 maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s registration
122 application, along with the digital signature of the applicant
123 on file with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
124 Vehicles, to the supervisor of elections. The applicant’s
125 digital signature satisfies the signature requirement of s.
126 97.052(2)(r).
127 (d) If the applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be
128 verified by the records of the Department of Highway Safety and
129 Motor Vehicles, or if the applicant indicated that he or she has
130 not been issued a Florida driver license or Florida
131 identification card, the online voter registration system must
132 shall populate the applicant’s information, except for the
133 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
134 identification card number, or social security number, into a
135 printable voter registration application pursuant to s.
136 97.052(2) which and direct the applicant may to print, complete,
137 sign, and date, the application and deliver the application to
138 the supervisor of elections for disposition pursuant to s.
139 97.073.
140 (e) If the applicant indicates that he or she has not been
141 issued a Florida driver license or identification card, or
142 chooses to use the system to prepopulate an application to
143 print, sign, date, and deliver to the supervisor, the online
144 voter registration system must populate the applicant’s
145 information into a printable voter registration application
146 pursuant to s. 97.052(2) and direct the applicant to print,
147 sign, and date the application and deliver the application to
148 the supervisor for disposition under s. 97.073.
149 Section 4. Subsections (2), (4), and (6) of section 97.053,
150 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
151 97.053 Acceptance of voter registration applications.—
152 (2) A voter registration application is complete and
153 becomes the official voter registration record of that applicant
154 when all information necessary to establish the applicant’s
155 eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041 is received by a voter
156 registration official and verified pursuant to subsection (6).
157 Except as provided in subsection (6), if the applicant fails to
158 complete his or her voter registration application on or before
159 prior to the date of book closing for an election, then such
160 applicant is shall not be eligible to vote in that election.
161 (4)(a) The registration date for a valid initial voter
162 registration application that has been mailed to a driver
163 license office, a voter registration agency, an armed forces
164 recruitment office, the division, or the office of any
165 supervisor in the state and bears a clear postmark is the date
166 of that postmark. If an initial voter registration application
167 that has been mailed does not bear a postmark or if the postmark
168 is unclear, the registration date is the date the application is
169 received by any supervisor or the division, unless it is
170 received within 5 days after the closing of the books for an
171 election, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in
172 which case the registration date is the book-closing date.
173 (b) The registration date for a valid application to update
174 a voter’s record with a change of address or name is the date
175 the application was initially received once the required
176 sufficient evidence is verified.
177 (c) The registration date for a valid application to update
178 a voter’s record with a change of party affiliation is the date
179 the application was initially received, and the registration is
180 effective once the required sufficient evidence is verified
181 unless the registration books are closed for a primary election,
182 in which case the update is effective for the subsequent general
183 election.
184 (6)(a) A voter registration application, including an
185 application with a change in name, address, or party
186 affiliation, may be accepted as valid only after the department
187 has verified the authenticity or nonexistence of the Florida
188 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
189 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
190 by the applicant. If a completed voter registration application
191 has been received by the book-closing deadline but the Florida
192 driver license number, the Florida identification card number,
193 or the last four digits of the social security number provided
194 by the applicant cannot be verified, or if the records of the
195 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that
196 the applicant is not a United States citizen or has not provided
197 a document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship,
198 the applicant must shall be notified and that the number cannot
199 be verified and that the applicant must provide evidence to the
200 supervisor sufficient to verify the authenticity of the
201 applicant’s Florida driver license number, Florida
202 identification card number, or last four digits of the social
203 security number or, if applicable, must provide a document
204 acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship. If the
205 applicant provides the necessary evidence, the supervisor must
206 shall place the applicant’s name on the registration rolls as an
207 active voter. If the applicant has not provided the necessary
208 evidence or the number has not otherwise been verified prior to
209 the applicant presenting himself or herself to vote, the
210 applicant must shall be provided a provisional ballot. The
211 provisional ballot must shall be counted only if the number is
212 verified by the end of the canvassing period or if the applicant
213 presents evidence to the supervisor of elections sufficient to
214 verify the authenticity of the applicant’s Florida driver
215 license number, Florida identification card number, or last four
216 digits of the social security number or, if applicable, presents
217 a document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship
218 no later than 5 p.m. of the second day following the election.
219 (b) Upon receipt of a voter registration application,
220 including an application with a change in name, address, or
221 party affiliation, which indicates that the applicant has not
222 been issued a current and valid Florida driver license, Florida
223 identification card, or social security number, or if the
224 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
225 indicate that the applicant is not a United States citizen or
226 has not provided a document acceptable as evidence of United
227 States citizenship, the supervisor of elections shall verify the
228 voter’s legal status as a United States citizen using available
229 state and federal governmental sources and, if applicable,
230 initiate notice pursuant to s. 98.075(7). If the voter’s legal
231 status as a United States citizen is verified, the status must
232 be recorded in the statewide voter registration system. If the
233 applicant provides a document acceptable as evidence of United
234 States citizenship, the type of document presented must be
235 recorded in the statewide voter registration system.
236 Section 5. Subsections (11) and (13) of section 97.057,
237 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
238 97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
239 Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
240 (11) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
241 shall enter into an agreement with the department to match
242 information in the statewide voter registration system with
243 information in the database of the Department of Highway Safety
244 and Motor Vehicles to the extent required to verify the accuracy
245 of the Florida driver license number, Florida identification
246 number, or last four digits of the social security number and
247 the legal status as a United States citizen, provided on
248 applications for voter registration as required in s. 97.053.
249 The department shall also include in the statewide voter
250 registration system the type of documentary proof that the
251 licensee or cardholder provided as evidence of United States
252 citizenship.
253 (13) Notwithstanding declinations to register or to update
254 a voter registration pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), the
255 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in accordance
256 with s. 98.093(8), shall must assist the Department of State in
257 regularly identifying changes in residence address on the
258 Florida driver license or Florida identification card or changes
259 in the Florida driver license or Florida identification card
260 number of such persons who may be voters of a voter. The
261 Department of State must report each such change to the
262 appropriate supervisor of elections who must change the voter’s
263 registration records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
264 Section 6. Effective upon becoming a law, subsection (4) of
265 section 98.015, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
266 98.015 Supervisor of elections; election, tenure of office,
267 compensation, custody of registration-related documents, office
268 hours, successor, seal; appointment of deputy supervisors;
269 duties.—
270 (4)(a) At a minimum, the office of the supervisor must be
271 open Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, for a
272 period of not less than 8 hours per day, beginning no later than
273 9 a.m.
274 (b) The office of the supervisor may close to observe legal
275 holidays and other federal, state, or county-approved holidays,
276 if the office is not otherwise required to be open to fulfill
277 official duties under the Florida Election Code.
278 Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 98.045, Florida
279 Statutes, is amended to read:
280 98.045 Administration of voter registration.—
281 (1) ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANT.—
282 (a) The supervisor shall must ensure that any eligible
283 applicant for voter registration is registered to vote and that
284 each application for voter registration is processed in
285 accordance with law. The supervisor shall determine whether a
286 voter registration applicant is ineligible based on any of the
287 following:
288 1.(a) The failure to complete a voter registration
289 application as specified in s. 97.053.
290 2.(b) The applicant is deceased.
291 3.(c) The applicant has been convicted of a felony for
292 which his or her voting rights have not been restored.
293 4.(d) The applicant has been adjudicated mentally
294 incapacitated with respect to the right to vote and such right
295 has not been restored.
296 5.(e) The applicant does not meet the age requirement
297 pursuant to s. 97.041.
298 6.(f) The applicant is not a United States citizen.
299 7.(g) The applicant is a fictitious person.
300 8.(h) The applicant has provided an address of legal
301 residence that is not his or her legal residence.
302 9.(i) The applicant has provided a Florida driver license
303 number, Florida identification card number, or the last four
304 digits of a social security number that is not verifiable by the
305 department.
306 (b) If the latest voter registration records show that a
307 new applicant was previously registered but subsequently removed
308 for ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.075(7), the supervisor must
309 verify the current eligibility of the applicant to register
310 within 13 days after receipt of such records by reviewing the
311 information provided by a governmental entity listed in s.
312 98.075 or s. 98.093 to determine whether the applicant remains
313 ineligible. If the supervisor determines that the applicant is
314 ineligible, the supervisor must deny the application and notify
315 the applicant pursuant to s. 97.073.
316 Section 8. Subsection (6) and paragraph (a) of subsection
317 (7) of section 98.075, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
318 98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
319 ineligibility determinations.—
320 (6) ELIGIBILITY.—
321 (a) Citizenship.—The department shall identify those
322 registered voters who are potentially ineligible based on their
323 legal status regarding United States citizenship by comparing or
324 receiving information from other governmental entities as
325 authorized by s. 98.093. Upon receipt of information from such
326 other governmental entities indicating a voter may be ineligible
327 based on his or her legal status regarding United States
328 citizenship, the department shall review and make an initial
329 determination as to whether the information is credible and
330 reliable. If the department determines that the information is
331 credible and reliable, the department must notify the supervisor
332 and provide a copy of the supporting documentation indicating
333 potential ineligibility of the voter to be registered. Upon
334 receipt of the notice that the department has made a
335 determination of initial credibility and reliability, the
336 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
337 (7) before the removal of a registered voter’s name from the
338 statewide voter registration system. If the voter provides a
339 document acceptable as evidence of United States citizenship,
340 the supervisor must record the type of document in the statewide
341 voter registration system.
342 (b) Other bases for ineligibility OTHER BASES FOR
343 INELIGIBILITY.—Subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) do not limit or
344 restrict the department or the supervisor in his or her duty to
345 act upon direct receipt of, access to, or knowledge of
346 information from any governmental entity that identifies a
347 registered voter as potentially ineligible. If the department or
348 supervisor receives information from any governmental entity
349 other than those identified in subsections (2)-(6) (2)-(5) that
350 a registered voter is ineligible because the voter is deceased,
351 adjudicated a convicted felon without having had his or her
352 voting rights restored, adjudicated mentally incapacitated
353 without having had his or her voting rights restored, does not
354 meet the age requirement pursuant to s. 97.041, is not a United
355 States citizen, is a fictitious person, or has listed an address
356 that is not his or her address of legal residence, the
357 supervisor must adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection
358 (7) before the removal of the name of a registered voter who is
359 determined to be ineligible from the statewide voter
360 registration system.
361 (7) PROCEDURES FOR REMOVAL.—
362 (a) If the supervisor receives notice or information
363 pursuant to subsections (4)-(6), the supervisor of the county in
364 which the voter is registered must:
365 1. Notify the registered voter of his or her potential
366 ineligibility by mail within 7 days after receipt of notice or
367 information. The notice must include:
368 a. A statement of the basis for the registered voter’s
369 potential ineligibility and a copy of any documentation upon
370 which the potential ineligibility is based. Such documentation
371 must include any conviction from another jurisdiction determined
372 to be a similar offense to murder or a felony sexual offense, as
373 those terms are defined in s. 98.0751.
374 b. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
375 receipt of the notice may result in a determination of
376 ineligibility and in removal of the registered voter’s name from
377 the statewide voter registration system.
378 c. A return form that requires the registered voter to
379 admit or deny the accuracy of the information underlying the
380 potential ineligibility for purposes of a final determination by
381 the supervisor.
382 d. A statement that, if the voter is denying the accuracy
383 of the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
384 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
385 determining eligibility.
386 e. Instructions for the registered voter to contact the
387 supervisor of elections of the county in which the voter is
388 registered if assistance is needed in resolving the matter.
389 f. Instructions for seeking restoration of civil rights
390 pursuant to s. 8, Art. IV of the State Constitution and
391 information explaining voting rights restoration pursuant to s.
392 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution following a felony
393 conviction, if applicable.
394 g. A list of the documents acceptable as evidence of United
395 States citizenship.
396 h. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
397 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
398 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
399 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
400 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
401 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
402 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
403 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
404 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
405 2. If the mailed notice is returned as undeliverable, the
406 supervisor must, within 14 days after receiving the returned
407 notice, either publish notice once in a newspaper of general
408 circulation in the county in which the voter was last registered
409 or publish notice on the county’s website as provided in s.
410 50.0311 or on the supervisor’s website, as deemed appropriate by
411 the supervisor. The notice must contain the following:
412 a. The voter’s name and address.
413 b. A statement that the voter is potentially ineligible to
414 be registered to vote.
415 c. A statement that failure to respond within 30 days after
416 the notice is published may result in a determination of
417 ineligibility by the supervisor and removal of the registered
418 voter’s name from the statewide voter registration system.
419 d. An instruction for the voter to contact the supervisor
420 no later than 30 days after the date of the published notice to
421 receive information regarding the basis for the potential
422 ineligibility and the procedure to resolve the matter.
423 e. An instruction to the voter that, if further assistance
424 is needed, the voter should contact the supervisor of elections
425 of the county in which the voter is registered.
426 f. A statement that, if the voter denies the accuracy of
427 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
428 voter has a right to request a hearing for the purpose of
429 determining eligibility.
430 g. The following statement: “If you attempt to vote at an
431 early voting site or your normal election day polling place, you
432 will be required to vote a provisional ballot. If you vote by
433 mail, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. In
434 either case, your ballot may not be counted until a final
435 determination of eligibility is made. If you wish for your
436 ballot to be counted, you must contact the supervisor of
437 elections office within 2 days after the election and present
438 evidence that you are eligible to vote.”
439 3. If a registered voter fails to respond to a notice
440 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., the supervisor
441 must make a final determination of the voter’s eligibility
442 within 7 days after expiration of the voter’s timeframe to
443 respond. If the supervisor determines that the voter is
444 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the name of the
445 registered voter from the statewide voter registration system
446 within 7 days. The supervisor shall notify the registered voter
447 of the supervisor’s determination and action.
448 4. If a registered voter responds to the notice pursuant to
449 subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and admits the accuracy of
450 the information underlying the potential ineligibility, the
451 supervisor must, as soon as practicable, make a final
452 determination of ineligibility and remove the voter’s name from
453 the statewide voter registration system. The supervisor shall
454 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
455 and action.
456 5. If a registered voter responds to the notice issued
457 pursuant to subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. and denies the
458 accuracy of the information underlying the potential
459 ineligibility but does not request a hearing, the supervisor
460 must review the evidence and make a determination of eligibility
461 no later than 30 days after receiving the response from the
462 voter. If the supervisor determines that the registered voter is
463 ineligible, the supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the
464 statewide voter registration system upon such determination and
465 notify the registered voter of the supervisor’s determination
466 and action and that the removed voter has a right to appeal a
467 determination of ineligibility pursuant to s. 98.0755. If such
468 registered voter requests a hearing, the supervisor must send
469 notice to the registered voter to attend a hearing at a time and
470 place specified in the notice. The supervisor shall schedule and
471 issue notice for the hearing within 7 days after receiving the
472 voter’s request for a hearing and shall hold the hearing no
473 later than 30 days after issuing the notice of the hearing. A
474 voter may request an extension upon showing good cause by
475 submitting an affidavit to the supervisor as to why he or she is
476 unable to attend the scheduled hearing. Upon hearing all
477 evidence presented at the hearing, the supervisor shall make a
478 determination of eligibility within 7 days. If the supervisor
479 determines that the registered voter is ineligible, the
480 supervisor must remove the voter’s name from the statewide voter
481 registration system and notify the registered voter of the
482 supervisor’s determination and action and that the removed voter
483 has a right to appeal a determination of ineligibility pursuant
484 to s. 98.0755.
485 Section 9. Present subsection (9) of section 98.093,
486 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (10), a new
487 subsection (9) is added to that section, and subsection (8) of
488 that section is amended, to read:
489 98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
490 deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
491 persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not United
492 States citizens.—
493 (8) DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES.—The
494 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall furnish
495 weekly to the department the following information:
496 (a) Information identifying those persons whose names have
497 been removed from the Florida driver license or Florida
498 identification card database during the preceding week because
499 they have been licensed or been issued an identification card in
500 another state. The information must contain the person’s name,
501 last known Florida address, date of birth, sex, last four digits
502 of his or her social security number, and Florida driver license
503 number or Florida identification card number and, if available,
504 the address and the state in which the person is now licensed.
505 (b) Information identifying those persons who during the
506 preceding week presented evidence of non-United States
507 citizenship upon being issued a new or renewed Florida driver
508 license or Florida identification card. The information must
509 contain the person’s name; address; date of birth; last four
510 digits of the social security number, if applicable; Florida
511 driver license number or Florida identification card number, as
512 available; and alien registration number or other legal status
513 identifier.
514 (c) Information identifying those persons who during the
515 preceding week presented a document acceptable as evidence of
516 United States citizenship upon being issued a new, renewed, or
517 replacement Florida driver license or Florida identification
518 card. The information must contain the person’s name; address;
519 date of birth; last four digits of the social security number,
520 if applicable; Florida driver license number or Florida
521 identification card number, as available; type of documentary
522 proof provided in support of citizenship; and, if applicable,
523 alien registration number or other legal status identifier.
524 (d) Information identifying a change in residence address
525 on the Florida driver license or Florida identification card of
526 any person who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to register or
527 update his or her voter record. The information must contain the
528 person’s name; date of birth; last four digits of the social
529 security number, if available; and Florida driver license number
530 or Florida identification card number, as available, in order to
531 identify a voter’s registration record. The Department of State
532 must report each such change in residence address to the
533 appropriate supervisor, who must change the voter’s registration
534 records in accordance with s. 98.065(4).
535 (e) Information identifying new, renewed, or replacement
536 Florida driver license or Florida identification card numbers
537 issued to persons who declined pursuant to s. 97.057(2) to
538 register or update their voter record. The information must
539 contain the person’s name; date of birth; last four digits of
540 the social security number, if available; and the prior, if
541 applicable, and current Florida driver license number or Florida
542 identification card number in order to identify a voter’s
543 registration record. Within 7 days, the Department of State
544 shall report such information to the appropriate supervisor, who
545 must update the voter registration records.
546 (f) Information identifying those persons for which it has
547 received official information during the preceding week that the
548 person is deceased. The information must contain the name,
549 address, date of birth, last four digits of the social security
550 number, Florida driver license number or Florida identification
551 card number, and date of death of each such person.
552 (9) FEDERAL COURTS.—Upon receipt of information from a jury
553 coordinator that a person was disqualified or potentially
554 disqualified as a prospective juror from jury service due to not
555 having United States citizenship, being convicted of a felony,
556 being deceased, being a nonresident of this state, or being a
557 nonresident of the county, the department shall use such
558 information to identify registered voters or applicants for
559 voter registration who may be potentially ineligible based on
560 information provided in accordance with s. 98.075.
561 Section 10. Effective upon this act becoming a law,
562 paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of section 99.021,
563 Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraphs (f) and (g) are
564 added to that subsection, to read:
565 99.021 Form of candidate oath.—
566 (1)
567 (b) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for
568 nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the
569 time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in
570 writing:
571 1. The party of which the person is a member.
572 2. That the person has been a registered member of the
573 political party for which he or she is seeking nomination as a
574 candidate for at least 365 consecutive days preceding before the
575 beginning of qualifying before preceding the general election
576 for which the person seeks to qualify.
577 3. That the person has paid the assessment levied against
578 him or her, if any, as a candidate for said office by the
579 executive committee of the party of which he or she is a member.
580 4. That the person has not legally changed his or her name
581 through a petition pursuant to s. 68.07 during the 365-day
582 period preceding the beginning of qualifying. This subparagraph
583 does not apply to any change of name in proceedings for
584 dissolution of marriage or adoption of children or based on a
585 change of name conducted with a marriage certificate.
586 (c) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for office
587 as a candidate with no party affiliation shall, at the time of
588 subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing that he
589 or she is registered without any party affiliation and that he
590 or she has not:
591 1. Been a registered member of any political party for at
592 least 365 consecutive days preceding before the beginning of
593 qualifying before preceding the general election for which the
594 person seeks to qualify.
595 2. Legally changed his or her name through a petition
596 pursuant to s. 68.07 during the 365-day period preceding the
597 beginning of qualifying. This subparagraph does not apply to any
598 change of name in proceedings for dissolution of marriage or
599 adoption of children or based on a change of name conducted with
600 a marriage certificate.
601 (f) The statements in subparagraphs (b)4. and (c)2.
602 constitute substantive requirements for the person completing
603 the statement, and compliance with those requirements is
604 mandatory. The sole method to enforce compliance with such
605 requirements is contained in this paragraph. Compliance with
606 subparagraphs (b)4. and (c)2. may be challenged by a qualified
607 candidate or a political party with qualified candidates in the
608 same race by filing an action in the circuit court for the
609 county in which the qualifying officer is headquartered. A
610 person may not be qualified as a candidate for nomination or
611 election and his or her name may not appear on the ballot if in
612 an order that has become final, the court determines that the
613 person seeking to qualify has legally changed his or her name
614 through a petition pursuant to s. 68.07 during the 365-day
615 period preceding the beginning of qualifying, unless such change
616 of name occurred in proceedings for dissolution of marriage or
617 adoption of children or was based on a change of name conducted
618 with a marriage certificate.
619 (g) The statements in subparagraphs (b)2. and (c)1.
620 constitute substantive requirements for the person completing
621 the statement, and compliance with those requirements is
622 mandatory. The sole method to enforce compliance with such
623 requirements is contained in this paragraph. Compliance with
624 subparagraphs (b)2. and (c)1. may be challenged by a qualified
625 candidate or a political party with qualified candidates in the
626 same race by filing an action in the circuit court for the
627 county in which the qualifying officer is headquartered. A
628 person may not be qualified as a candidate for nomination or
629 election, and his or her name may not appear on the ballot, if,
630 in an order that has become final, the court determines that:
631 1. The person seeking to qualify for nomination as a
632 candidate of any political party has not been a registered
633 member of that party for the 365-day period preceding the
634 beginning of qualifying; or
635 2. The person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate
636 with no party affiliation has not been registered without party
637 affiliation for, or has been a registered member of any
638 political party during, the 365-day period preceding the
639 beginning of qualifying.
640 Section 11. Effective upon becoming a law, section 99.0211,
641 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
642 99.0211 Challenging candidacy.—
643 (1) A candidate must ensure that he or she will satisfy all
644 statutory and constitutional requirements for the office for
645 which he or she is seeking nomination or election.
646 (2) A candidate or a political party with a candidate in
647 the same race, or an affiliated party committee as authorized by
648 s. 103.092, may challenge a candidate’s compliance with
649 subsection (1) by filing an action for declaratory and
650 injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which
651 the filing officer is headquartered.
652 (3) A person may not be qualified as a candidate for
653 nomination or election, and his or her name may not appear on
654 the ballot, if, in an order that has become final, the court
655 determines that the candidate will not, at the time of
656 qualification, election, or assumption of office, as applicable,
657 satisfy all statutory and constitutional requirements for the
658 office for which he or she is seeking nomination or election.
659 (4) A candidate, a political party, or an affiliated party
660 committee bringing an action for declaratory and injunctive
661 relief under subsection (2) is entitled to an expedited final
662 hearing, and any appeal of a final hearing must receive
663 expedited consideration by the appellate court. Upon a final
664 order of the circuit court which contains the determination
665 under subsection (3), the supervisor of elections in each county
666 affected by such candidacy shall remove the name of the
667 candidate from the ballot or, if the ballots have already been
668 printed, include a notice with each vote-by-mail ballot, and
669 post a notice at each early voting location and polling
670 precinct, stating that a vote for such candidate will not be
671 counted.
672 Section 12. Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph (a) of
673 subsection (7) of section 99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
674 to read:
675 99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
676 federal, state, county, or district office.—
677 (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
678 following items must be received by the filing officer by the
679 end of the qualifying period:
680 1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
681 campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
682 by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
683 required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
684 required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
685 99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
686 required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a
687 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
688 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
689 candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee
690 with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign
691 account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph
692 shall disqualify the candidate.
693 2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
694 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
695 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
696 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
697 must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
698 92.525(1)(a).
699 3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
700 of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
701 if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
702 partisan office, the written statement required by s.
703 99.021(1)(c).
704 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
705 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
706 s. 106.021.
707 5. The full and public disclosure or statement of financial
708 interests required by subsection (5). A public officer who has
709 filed the full and public disclosure or statement of financial
710 interests with the Commission on Ethics before qualifying for
711 office may file a copy of that disclosure or a verification or
712 receipt of electronic filing as provided in subsection (5) at
713 the time of qualifying.
714 6. An oath or affirmation in writing that states whether
715 the candidate is a citizen of another country in addition to
716 being a citizen of the United States, and, if so, discloses any
717 other country of which the candidate is also a citizen.
718 Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 101.043, Florida
719 Statutes, is amended to read:
720 101.043 Identification required at polls.—
721 (1)(a) The precinct register, as prescribed in s. 98.461,
722 must shall be used at the polls for the purpose of identifying
723 the elector at the polls before allowing him or her to vote. The
724 clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon entering the
725 polling place, to present one of the following current and valid
726 picture identifications:
727 1. Florida driver license.
728 2. Florida identification card issued by the Department of
729 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
730 3. United States passport or passport card.
731 4. Debit or credit card.
732 5. United States uniformed services or Merchant Marine
733 Military identification.
734 6. Student identification.
735 7. Retirement center identification.
736 8. Neighborhood association identification.
737 9. Public assistance identification.
738 5.10. Veteran health identification card issued by the
739 United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
740 6.11. A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm
741 issued pursuant to s. 790.06.
742 7.12. Any other Employee identification card issued by any
743 branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government,
744 the state, a county, or a municipality, excluding identification
745 cards issued by an educational institution.
746 (b) If the picture identification does not contain the
747 signature of the elector, an additional identification that
748 provides the elector’s signature is shall be required. The
749 address appearing on the identification presented by the elector
750 may not be used as the basis to challenge an elector’s legal
751 residence. The elector must shall sign his or her name in the
752 space provided on the precinct register or on an electronic
753 device provided for recording the elector’s signature. The clerk
754 or inspector shall compare the signature with that on the
755 identification provided by the elector and enter his or her
756 initials in the space provided on the precinct register or on an
757 electronic device provided for that purpose and allow the
758 elector to vote if the clerk or inspector is satisfied as to the
759 identity of the elector.
760 Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
761 101.048, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
762 101.048 Provisional ballots.—
763 (6)
764 (d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in
765 substantially the following form:
766
767 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE
768 AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
769 BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
770 1. In order to cure the missing signature or the signature
771 discrepancy on your Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and
772 Affirmation, your affidavit should be completed and returned as
773 soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of
774 elections of the county in which your precinct is located no
775 later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election.
776 2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
777 Signature).
778 3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of
779 identification:
780 a. Tier 1 identification.—Current and valid identification
781 that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license;
782 Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway
783 Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport or passport
784 card; United States uniformed services or Merchant Marine; debit
785 or credit card; military identification; student identification;
786 retirement center identification; neighborhood association
787 identification; public assistance identification; veteran health
788 identification card issued by the United States Department of
789 Veterans Affairs; Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or
790 firearm; or any other employee identification card issued by any
791 branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government,
792 the state, a county, or a municipality, excluding identification
793 cards issued by an educational institution; or
794 b. Tier 2 identification.—ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1
795 FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and
796 current residence address: current utility bill; bank statement;
797 government check; paycheck; or government document (excluding
798 voter information card).
799 4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing
800 envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your
801 identification in the mailing envelope. Mail (if time permits),
802 deliver, or have delivered the completed affidavit along with
803 the copy of your identification to your county supervisor of
804 elections. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and
805 that the supervisor’s address is correct. Remember, your
806 information MUST reach your county supervisor of elections no
807 later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day following the election or your
808 ballot will not count.
809 5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed
810 affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of
811 elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as
812 attachments.
813 6. Submitting a provisional ballot affidavit does not
814 establish your eligibility to vote in this election or guarantee
815 that your ballot will be counted. The county canvassing board
816 determines your eligibility to vote through information provided
817 on the Provisional Ballot Voter’s Certificate and Affirmation,
818 written evidence provided by you, including information in your
819 cure affidavit along with any supporting identification, and any
820 other evidence presented by the supervisor of elections or a
821 challenger. You may still be required to present additional
822 written evidence to support your eligibility to vote.
823 Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 101.151, Florida
824 Statutes, is amended to read:
825 101.151 Specifications for ballots.—
826 (1)(a) Marksense Ballots must shall be printed on paper of
827 such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from
828 the back and must shall meet the specifications of the voting
829 system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.
830 (b) Polling places and early voting sites may employ a
831 ballot-on-demand production system to print individual marksense
832 ballots, including provisional ballots, for eligible voters
833 electors. Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce
834 marksense vote-by-mail, early voting, and election-day ballots.
835 Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 101.5606, Florida
836 Statutes, is amended to read:
837 101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.—No
838 electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved
839 by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that:
840 (4) For systems using marksense ballots, It accepts a
841 rejected ballot pursuant to subsection (3) if a voter chooses to
842 cast the ballot, but records no vote for any office that has
843 been overvoted or undervoted.
844 Section 17. Section 101.56075, Florida Statutes, is amended
845 to read:
846 101.56075 Voting methods.—For the purpose of designating
847 ballot selections, all voting must be by official marksense
848 ballot, using a pen compatible with or recommended for use with
849 the voting system, unless a voter requests to vote using marking
850 device or a voter interface device that produces a voter
851 verifiable paper output and meets the voter accessibility
852 requirements for individuals with disabilities under s. 301 of
853 the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and s. 101.56062.
854 Section 18. Section 101.5608, Florida Statutes, is amended
855 to read:
856 101.5608 Voting at the polls by electronic or
857 electromechanical method; procedures.—
858 (1) Each voter elector desiring to vote must shall be
859 identified to the clerk or inspector of the election as a duly
860 qualified voter elector of such election and must shall sign his
861 or her name on the precinct register or other form or device
862 provided by the supervisor. The inspector shall compare the
863 signature with the signature on the identification provided by
864 the voter elector. If the inspector is reasonably sure that the
865 person is entitled to vote, the inspector must shall provide the
866 person with a ballot.
867 (2) When an electronic or electromechanical voting system
868 utilizes a ballot card or marksense ballot, the following
869 procedures must shall be followed to vote:
870 (a) After receiving a ballot from an inspector, the voter
871 elector shall, without leaving the polling place, retire to a
872 booth or compartment and mark the ballot. After marking his or
873 her ballot, the voter must elector shall place the ballot in a
874 secrecy envelope so that the ballot will be deposited in the
875 tabulator without exposing the voter’s choices.
876 (b) Any voter who spoils his or her ballot or makes an
877 error may return the ballot to the election official and secure
878 another ballot, except that in no case shall a voter be
879 furnished more than three ballots. If the vote tabulation device
880 has rejected a ballot, the ballot must shall be considered
881 spoiled and a new ballot must shall be provided to the voter
882 unless the voter chooses to cast the rejected ballot. The
883 election official, without examining the original ballot, shall
884 state the possible reasons for the rejection and shall provide
885 instruction to the voter pursuant to s. 101.5611. A spoiled
886 ballot must shall be preserved, without examination, in an
887 envelope provided for that purpose. The stub shall be removed
888 from the ballot and placed in an envelope.
889 (c) The supervisor of elections shall prepare for each
890 polling place at least one ballot box to contain the ballots of
891 a particular precinct, and each ballot box must shall be plainly
892 marked with the name of the precinct for which it is intended.
893 (3) The Department of State shall promulgate rules
894 regarding voting procedures to be used when an electronic or
895 electromechanical voting system is of a type which does not
896 utilize a ballot card or marksense ballot.
897 (4) In any election in which a write-in candidate has
898 qualified for office, the supervisor of elections shall provide
899 for write-in voting pursuant to rules adopted by the Division of
900 Elections.
901 Section 19. Subsection (5) of section 101.5612, Florida
902 Statutes, is amended to read:
903 101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.—
904 (5) Any tests involving marksense ballots pursuant to this
905 section must shall employ test ballots created by the supervisor
906 of elections using actual ballots that have been printed for the
907 election. If ballot-on-demand ballots will be used in the
908 election, the supervisor must shall also create test ballots
909 using the ballot-on-demand technology that will be used to
910 produce ballots in the election, using the same paper stock as
911 will be used for ballots in the election.
912 Section 20. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
913 101.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
914 101.68 Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot.—
915 (4)
916 (d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in
917 substantially the following form:
918
919 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE
920 AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
921 BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
922
923 1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
924 counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon
925 as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of
926 the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5
927 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election.
928 2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
929 Signature).
930 3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of
931 identification:
932 a. Tier 1 identification.—Current and valid identification
933 that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license;
934 Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway
935 Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport or passport
936 card; United States uniformed services or Merchant Marine; debit
937 or credit card; military identification; student identification;
938 retirement center identification; neighborhood association
939 identification; public assistance identification; veteran health
940 identification card issued by the United States Department of
941 Veterans Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon
942 or firearm; or any an employee identification card issued by any
943 branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government,
944 the state, a county, or a municipality, excluding identification
945 cards issued by an educational institution; or
946 b. Tier 2 identification.—ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1
947 FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and
948 current residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
949 government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
950 voter information card).
951 4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing
952 envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your
953 identification in the mailing envelope. Mail (if time permits),
954 deliver, or have delivered the completed affidavit along with
955 the copy of your identification to your county supervisor of
956 elections. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and
957 that the supervisor’s address is correct. Remember, your
958 information MUST reach your county supervisor of elections no
959 later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election, or your
960 ballot will not count.
961 5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed
962 affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of
963 elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as
964 attachments.
965 Section 21. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida
966 Statutes, is amended to read:
967 101.6923 Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for
968 certain first-time voters.—
969 (2) A voter covered by this section must be provided with
970 printed instructions with his or her vote-by-mail ballot in
971 substantially the following form:
972
973 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR
974 BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
975 BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
976
977 1. In order to ensure that your vote-by-mail ballot will be
978 counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible
979 so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county
980 in which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the
981 date of the election. However, if you are an overseas voter
982 casting a ballot in a presidential preference primary or general
983 election, your vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked or dated
984 no later than the date of the election and received by the
985 supervisor of elections of the county in which you are
986 registered to vote no later than 10 days after the date of the
987 election. Note that the later you return your ballot, the less
988 time you will have to cure signature deficiencies, which is
989 authorized until 5 p.m. local time on the 2nd day after the
990 election.
991 2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
992 You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
993 because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
994 3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
995 a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
996 for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in
997 that race will not be counted.
998 4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
999 envelope and seal the envelope.
1000 5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope
1001 bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and
1002 completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the
1003 envelope.
1004 a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
1005 Signature).
1006 b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date
1007 you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or
1008 your ballot may not be counted.
1009 c. A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and
1010 will not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate
1011 does not match the signature on record. The signature on file at
1012 the start of the canvass of the vote-by-mail ballots is the
1013 signature that will be used to verify your signature on the
1014 Voter’s Certificate. If you need to update your signature for
1015 this election, send your signature update on a voter
1016 registration application to your supervisor of elections so that
1017 it is received before your vote-by-mail ballot is received.
1018 6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you
1019 must make a copy of one of the following forms of
1020 identification:
1021 a. Identification which must include your name and
1022 photograph: United States passport or passport card; United
1023 States uniformed services or Merchant Marine; debit or credit
1024 card; military identification; student identification;
1025 retirement center identification; neighborhood association
1026 identification; public assistance identification; veteran health
1027 identification card issued by the United States Department of
1028 Veterans Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon
1029 or firearm; or any an employee identification card issued by any
1030 branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government,
1031 the state, a county, or a municipality, excluding identification
1032 cards issued by an educational institution; or
1033 b. Identification which shows your name and current
1034 residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
1035 government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
1036 voter information card).
1037 7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply
1038 if you meet one of the following requirements:
1039 a. You are 65 years of age or older.
1040 b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
1041 c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty
1042 who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the
1043 county on election day.
1044 d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason
1045 of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the
1046 county on election day.
1047 e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to
1048 in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active
1049 duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on
1050 election day.
1051 f. You are currently residing outside the United States.
1052 8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into
1053 the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy
1054 of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR
1055 IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR
1056 INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR
1057 BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT.
1058 9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
1059 envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
1060 10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
1061 accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
1062 for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
1063 in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
1064 any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
1065 Section 22. Subsection (2) of section 102.111, Florida
1066 Statutes, is amended to read:
1067 102.111 Elections Canvassing Commission.—
1068 (2) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall meet at 9 8
1069 a.m. on the 9th day after a primary election and at 9 8 a.m. on
1070 the 14th day after a general election to certify the returns of
1071 the election for each federal, state, and multicounty office and
1072 for each constitutional amendment. On days the Legislature
1073 convenes for organizational session pursuant to s. 3(a), Art.
1074 III of the State Constitution, such meeting will begin at 8 a.m.
1075 If a member of a county canvassing board that was constituted
1076 pursuant to s. 102.141 determines, within 5 days after the
1077 certification by the Elections Canvassing Commission, that a
1078 typographical error occurred in the official returns of the
1079 county, the correction of which could result in a change in the
1080 outcome of an election, the county canvassing board must certify
1081 corrected returns to the Department of State within 24 hours,
1082 and the Elections Canvassing Commission must correct and
1083 recertify the election returns as soon as practicable.
1084 Section 23. Subsections (3) through (7) of section 102.141,
1085 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1086 102.141 County canvassing board; duties.—
1087 (3) The canvass, except the canvass of returned vote-by
1088 mail ballots absent electors’ returns and the canvass of
1089 provisional ballots, must shall be made from the returns and
1090 certificates of the inspectors as signed and filed by them with
1091 the supervisor, and the county canvassing board may shall not
1092 change the number of votes cast for a candidate, nominee,
1093 constitutional amendment, or other measure submitted to the
1094 electorate of the county, respectively, in any polling place, as
1095 shown by the returns. All returns must shall be made to the
1096 board on or before 2 a.m. of the day following any primary,
1097 general, or other election. If the returns from any precinct are
1098 missing, if there are any omissions on the returns from any
1099 precinct, or if there is an obvious error on any such returns,
1100 the canvassing board must shall order a retabulation of the
1101 returns from such precinct. Before canvassing such returns, the
1102 canvassing board shall examine the tabulation of the ballots
1103 cast in such precinct and determine whether the returns
1104 correctly reflect the votes cast. If there is a discrepancy
1105 between the returns and the tabulation of the ballots cast, the
1106 tabulation of the ballots cast must shall be presumed correct
1107 and such votes must shall be canvassed accordingly.
1108 (4)(a) The supervisor of elections shall upload into the
1109 county’s election management system by 7 p.m. local time on the
1110 day before the election the results of all early voting and
1111 vote-by-mail ballots that have been canvassed and tabulated by
1112 the end of the early voting period. Pursuant to ss. 101.5614(8),
1113 101.657, and 101.68(2), the tabulation of votes cast or the
1114 results of such uploads may not be made public before the close
1115 of the polls on election day.
1116 (b) The supervisor of elections, on behalf of the
1117 canvassing board, shall report all early voting and all
1118 tabulated vote-by-mail results to the Department of State within
1119 30 minutes after the polls close. Thereafter, the canvassing
1120 board shall report, with the exception of provisional ballot
1121 results, updated precinct election results shall be uploaded to
1122 the department at least every 45 minutes until all results are
1123 completely reported. The supervisor of elections shall notify
1124 the department immediately of any circumstances that do not
1125 permit periodic updates as required. Results must shall be
1126 submitted in a format prescribed by the department.
1127 (5) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
1128 formats provided by the division unofficial returns to the
1129 Department of State for each federal, statewide, state, or
1130 multicounty office or ballot measure no later than noon on the
1131 third day after any primary election and no later than noon on
1132 the fourth day after any general or other election. Such returns
1133 must shall include the canvass of all ballots, including write
1134 in votes, as required by subsection (2).
1135 (6) If the county canvassing board determines that the
1136 unofficial returns may contain a counting error in which the
1137 vote tabulation system failed to count votes that were properly
1138 marked in accordance with the instructions on the ballot, the
1139 county canvassing board must shall:
1140 (a) Correct the error and retabulate the affected ballots
1141 with the vote tabulation system; or
1142 (b) Request that the Department of State verify the
1143 tabulation software. When the Department of State verifies such
1144 software, the department shall compare the software used to
1145 tabulate the votes with the software filed with the department
1146 pursuant to s. 101.5607 and check the election parameters.
1147 (7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for
1148 any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent
1149 or less of the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for
1150 retention to a judicial office was retained or not retained by
1151 one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question
1152 of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was
1153 approved or rejected by one-half of a percent or less of the
1154 votes cast on such measure, a recount shall be ordered of the
1155 votes cast with respect to such office or measure. The Secretary
1156 of State is responsible for ordering recounts in races that are
1157 federal or, state races that are, and multicounty and any other
1158 multicounty races. The county canvassing board or the local
1159 board responsible for certifying the election is responsible for
1160 ordering recounts in all other races. A recount need not be
1161 ordered with respect to the returns for any office, however, if
1162 the candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
1163 contention for such office by one-half of a percent or less of
1164 the votes cast for such office request in writing that a recount
1165 not be made.
1166 (a) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
1167 recount shall put each marksense ballot through automatic
1168 tabulating equipment and determine whether the returns correctly
1169 reflect the votes cast. If any marksense ballot is physically
1170 damaged so that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic
1171 tabulating equipment during the recount, a true duplicate shall
1172 be made of the damaged ballot pursuant to the procedures in s.
1173 101.5614(4). Immediately before the start of the recount, a test
1174 of the tabulating equipment shall be conducted as provided in s.
1175 101.5612. If the test indicates no error, the recount tabulation
1176 of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and such votes
1177 shall be canvassed accordingly. If an error is detected, the
1178 cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and the
1179 recount repeated, as necessary. The canvassing board shall
1180 immediately report the error, along with the cause of the error
1181 and the corrective measures being taken, to the Department of
1182 State. No later than 11 days after the election, the canvassing
1183 board shall file a separate incident report with the Department
1184 of State, detailing the resolution of the matter and identifying
1185 any measures that will avoid a future recurrence of the error.
1186 If the automatic tabulating equipment used in a recount is not
1187 part of the voting system and the ballots have already been
1188 processed through such equipment, the canvassing board is not
1189 required to put each ballot through any automatic tabulating
1190 equipment again.
1191 (b) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a
1192 recount where touchscreen ballots were used shall examine the
1193 counters on the precinct tabulators to ensure that the total of
1194 the returns on the precinct tabulators equals the overall
1195 election return. If there is a discrepancy between the overall
1196 election return and the counters of the precinct tabulators, the
1197 counters of the precinct tabulators shall be presumed correct
1198 and such votes shall be canvassed accordingly.
1199 (c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in
1200 formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial
1201 returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide,
1202 state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns
1203 shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th day after any
1204 primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th day after
1205 any general election in which a recount was ordered by the
1206 Secretary of State. If the canvassing board is unable to
1207 complete the recount prescribed in this subsection by the
1208 deadline, the second set of unofficial returns submitted by the
1209 canvassing board shall be identical to the initial unofficial
1210 returns and the submission shall also include a detailed
1211 explanation of why it was unable to timely complete the recount.
1212 However, the canvassing board shall complete the recount
1213 prescribed in this subsection, along with any manual recount
1214 prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify election returns in
1215 accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
1216 (d) The Department of State shall adopt detailed rules
1217 prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified
1218 voting system, which shall be uniform to the extent practicable.
1219 Section 24. Subsection (1) of section 102.166, Florida
1220 Statutes, is amended to read:
1221 102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.—
1222 (1) If the second set of unofficial returns pursuant to s.
1223 102.141 indicates that a candidate for any office was defeated
1224 or eliminated by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes
1225 cast for such office, that a candidate for retention to a
1226 judicial office was retained or not retained by one-quarter of a
1227 percent or less of the votes cast on the question of retention,
1228 or that a measure appearing on the ballot was approved or
1229 rejected by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes cast
1230 on such measure, a manual recount of the overvotes and
1231 undervotes cast in the entire geographic jurisdiction of such
1232 office or ballot measure must shall be ordered unless:
1233 (a) The candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated from
1234 contention by one-quarter of 1 percent or fewer of the votes
1235 cast for such office request in writing that a recount not be
1236 made; or
1237 (b) The number of overvotes and undervotes is fewer than
1238 the number of votes needed to change the outcome of the
1239 election.
1240
1241 The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering a manual
1242 recount for federal or, state races that are multicounty, and
1243 any other multicounty races. The county canvassing board or
1244 local board responsible for certifying the election is
1245 responsible for ordering a manual recount for all other races. A
1246 manual recount consists of a recount of marksense ballots or of
1247 digital images of those ballots by a person.
1248 Section 25. Effective July 1, 2026, section 104.042,
1249 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
1250 104.042 Time limitation; election fraud.—A prosecution for
1251 a felony violation under the Florida Election Code must be
1252 commenced within 5 years after the date the violation is
1253 committed.
1254 Section 26. Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph (a) of
1255 subsection (5) of section 105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended
1256 to read:
1257 105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate’s oath; items
1258 required to be filed.—
1259 (5) ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FILED.—
1260 (a) In order for a candidate for judicial office or the
1261 office of school board member to be qualified, the following
1262 items must be received by the filing officer by the end of the
1263 qualifying period:
1264 1. Except for candidates for retention to judicial office,
1265 a properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s campaign
1266 account in an amount not less than the fee required by
1267 subsection (3) or, in lieu thereof, the copy of the notice of
1268 obtaining ballot position pursuant to s. 105.035. If a
1269 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
1270 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
1271 candidate shall, the end of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48
1272 hours from the time such notification is received, excluding
1273 Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to pay the fee with a
1274 cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign account.
1275 Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph shall
1276 disqualify the candidate.
1277 2. The candidate’s oath required by subsection (4), which
1278 must contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
1279 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
1280 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, duly
1281 acknowledged.
1282 3. The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
1283 candidate and duly acknowledged.
1284 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
1285 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
1286 s. 106.021. In addition, each candidate for judicial office,
1287 including an incumbent judge, shall file a statement with the
1288 qualifying officer, within 10 days after filing the appointment
1289 of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository,
1290 stating that the candidate has read and understands the
1291 requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. Such
1292 statement shall be in substantially the following form:
1293
1294 Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office
1295
1296 I, ...(name of candidate)..., a judicial candidate, have
1297 received, read, and understand the requirements of the Florida
1298 Code of Judicial Conduct.
1299 ...(Signature of candidate)...
1300 ...(Date)...
1301
1302 5. The full and public disclosure of financial interests
1303 required by s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or the
1304 statement of financial interests required by s. 112.3145,
1305 whichever is applicable. A public officer who has filed the full
1306 and public disclosure or statement of financial interests with
1307 the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of elections prior to
1308 qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure at the
1309 time of qualifying.
1310 6. An oath or affirmation in writing that states whether
1311 the candidate is a citizen of another country in addition to
1312 being a citizen of the United States, and, if so, discloses any
1313 other country of which the candidate is also a citizen.
1314 Section 27. Effective upon becoming a law, subsection (3)
1315 is added to section 106.023, Florida Statutes, to read:
1316 106.023 Statement of candidate.—
1317 (3) At the time of filing the statement of candidacy, a
1318 candidate must also provide an oath or affirmation in writing
1319 that states that he or she meets, or will meet at the time of
1320 election for the office sought or at the time of assuming the
1321 office, as applicable, all statutory and constitutional
1322 qualifications for the office sought.
1323 Section 28. Effective July 1, 2026, subsection (12) of
1324 section 106.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1325 106.08 Contributions; limitations on.—
1326 (12)(a)1. For purposes of this subsection, the term
1327 “foreign national” means:
1328 a. A foreign government;
1329 b. A foreign political party;
1330 c. A foreign corporation, partnership, association,
1331 organization, or other combination of persons organized under
1332 the laws of or having its principal place of business in a
1333 foreign country;
1334 d. A person with foreign citizenship; or
1335 e. A person who is not a citizen or national of the United
1336 States and is not lawfully admitted to the United States for
1337 permanent residence.
1338 2. The term does not include:
1339 a. A person who is a dual citizen or dual national of the
1340 United States and a foreign country.
1341 b. A domestic subsidiary of a foreign corporation,
1342 partnership, association, organization, or other combination of
1343 persons organized under the laws of or having its principal
1344 place of business in a foreign country if:
1345 (I) The donations and disbursements used toward a
1346 contribution or an expenditure are derived entirely from funds
1347 generated by the subsidiary’s operations in the United States;
1348 and
1349 (II) All decisions concerning donations and disbursements
1350 used toward a contribution or an expenditure are made by
1351 individuals who either hold United States citizenship or are
1352 permanent residents of the United States. For purposes of this
1353 sub-sub-subparagraph, decisions concerning donations and
1354 disbursements do not include decisions regarding the
1355 subsidiary’s overall budget for contributions or expenditures in
1356 connection with an election.
1357 (b) A foreign national may not make or offer to make,
1358 directly or indirectly, a contribution or expenditure in
1359 connection with any election held in the state.
1360 (c) A political party, a political committee, an
1361 electioneering communications organization, or a candidate may
1362 not knowingly and willfully accept or solicit, directly or
1363 indirectly, a contribution from a foreign national in connection
1364 with any election held in this state.
1365 Section 29. Section 322.034, Florida Statutes, is created
1366 to read:
1367 322.034 Legal status designation on state-issued driver
1368 licenses and identification cards.—
1369 (1) By July 1, 2027, a Florida driver license or Florida
1370 identification card issued to a qualified applicant who is a
1371 United States citizen as last recorded in the system must
1372 include his or her legal citizenship status at the time of new
1373 issuance, renewal, or replacement.
1374 (2) Notwithstanding any other law, the department must, at
1375 no charge, issue a renewal or replacement driver license or
1376 identification card if a licensee or cardholder timely updates
1377 his or her legal status upon becoming a citizen of the United
1378 States as required in s. 322.19.
1379 Section 30. Effective July 1, 2026, paragraphs (a) and (d)
1380 of subsection (8) of section 895.02, Florida Statutes, are
1381 amended to read:
1382 895.02 Definitions.—As used in ss. 895.01-895.08, the term:
1383 (8) “Racketeering activity” means to commit, to attempt to
1384 commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or
1385 intimidate another person to commit:
1386 (a) Any crime that is chargeable by petition, indictment,
1387 or information under the following provisions of the Florida
1388 Statutes:
1389 1. Section 104.155(2), relating to aiding or soliciting a
1390 noncitizen in voting.
1391 2. Section 104.185, s. 104.186, s. 104.187, or s. 104.188,
1392 relating to issue petition activities.
1393 3.2. Section 210.18, relating to evasion of payment of
1394 cigarette taxes.
1395 4.3. Section 316.1935, relating to fleeing or attempting to
1396 elude a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing or
1397 eluding.
1398 5.4. Chapter 379, relating to the illegal sale, purchase,
1399 collection, harvest, capture, or possession of wild animal life,
1400 freshwater aquatic life, or marine life, and related crimes.
1401 6.5. Section 403.727(3)(b), relating to environmental
1402 control.
1403 7.6. Section 409.920 or s. 409.9201, relating to Medicaid
1404 fraud.
1405 8.7. Section 414.39, relating to public assistance fraud.
1406 9.8. Section 440.105 or s. 440.106, relating to workers’
1407 compensation.
1408 10.9. Section 443.071(4), relating to creation of a
1409 fictitious employer scheme to commit reemployment assistance
1410 fraud.
1411 11.10. Section 465.0161, relating to distribution of
1412 medicinal drugs without a permit as an Internet pharmacy.
1413 12.11. Section 499.0051, relating to crimes involving
1414 contraband, adulterated, or misbranded drugs.
1415 13.12. Part IV of chapter 501, relating to telemarketing.
1416 14.13. Chapter 517, relating to sale of securities and
1417 investor protection.
1418 15.14. Section 550.235 or s. 550.3551, relating to
1419 dogracing and horseracing.
1420 16.15. Chapter 550, relating to jai alai frontons.
1421 17.16. Section 551.109, relating to slot machine gaming.
1422 18.17. Chapter 552, relating to the manufacture,
1423 distribution, and use of explosives.
1424 19.18. Chapter 560, relating to money transmitters, if the
1425 violation is punishable as a felony.
1426 20.19. Chapter 562, relating to beverage law enforcement.
1427 21.20. Section 624.401, relating to transacting insurance
1428 without a certificate of authority, s. 624.437(4)(c)1., relating
1429 to operating an unauthorized multiple-employer welfare
1430 arrangement, or s. 626.902(1)(b), relating to representing or
1431 aiding an unauthorized insurer.
1432 22.21. Section 655.50, relating to reports of currency
1433 transactions, when such violation is punishable as a felony.
1434 23.22. Chapter 687, relating to interest and usurious
1435 practices.
1436 24.23. Section 721.08, s. 721.09, or s. 721.13, relating to
1437 real estate timeshare plans.
1438 25.24. Section 775.13(5)(b), relating to registration of
1439 persons found to have committed any offense for the purpose of
1440 benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a criminal
1441 gang.
1442 26.25. Section 777.03, relating to commission of crimes by
1443 accessories after the fact.
1444 27.26. Chapter 782, relating to homicide.
1445 28.27. Chapter 784, relating to assault and battery.
1446 29.28. Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping, human
1447 smuggling, or human trafficking.
1448 30.29. Chapter 790, relating to weapons and firearms.
1449 31.30. Chapter 794, relating to sexual battery, but only if
1450 such crime was committed with the intent to benefit, promote, or
1451 further the interests of a criminal gang, or for the purpose of
1452 increasing a criminal gang member’s own standing or position
1453 within a criminal gang.
1454 32.31. Former s. 796.03, former s. 796.035, s. 796.04, s.
1455 796.05, or s. 796.07, relating to prostitution.
1456 33.32. Chapter 806, relating to arson and criminal
1457 mischief.
1458 34.33. Chapter 810, relating to burglary and trespass.
1459 35.34. Chapter 812, relating to theft, robbery, and related
1460 crimes.
1461 36.35. Chapter 815, relating to computer-related crimes.
1462 37.36. Chapter 817, relating to fraudulent practices, false
1463 pretenses, fraud generally, credit card crimes, and patient
1464 brokering.
1465 38.37. Chapter 825, relating to abuse, neglect, or
1466 exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
1467 39.38. Section 827.071, relating to commercial sexual
1468 exploitation of children.
1469 40.39. Section 828.122, relating to fighting or baiting
1470 animals.
1471 41.40. Chapter 831, relating to forgery and counterfeiting.
1472 42.41. Chapter 832, relating to issuance of worthless
1473 checks and drafts.
1474 43.42. Section 836.05, relating to extortion.
1475 44.43. Chapter 837, relating to perjury.
1476 45.44. Chapter 838, relating to bribery and misuse of
1477 public office.
1478 46.45. Chapter 843, relating to obstruction of justice.
1479 47.46. Section 847.011, s. 847.012, s. 847.013, s. 847.06,
1480 or s. 847.07, relating to obscene literature and profanity.
1481 48.47. Chapter 849, relating to gambling, lottery, gambling
1482 or gaming devices, slot machines, or any of the provisions
1483 within that chapter.
1484 49.48. Chapter 874, relating to criminal gangs.
1485 50.49. Chapter 893, relating to drug abuse prevention and
1486 control.
1487 51.50. Chapter 896, relating to offenses related to
1488 financial transactions.
1489 52.51. Sections 914.22 and 914.23, relating to tampering
1490 with or harassing a witness, victim, or informant, and
1491 retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant.
1492 53.52. Sections 918.12, 918.125, and 918.13, relating to
1493 tampering with or harassing court official, retaliating against
1494 court official, and tampering with evidence.
1495 (d) A violation of the Florida Election Code relating to
1496 irregularities or fraud involving issue petition activities.
1497 Section 31. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1498 made by this act to section 98.075, Florida Statutes, in a
1499 reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 98.065, Florida
1500 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1501 98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
1502 (6) The supervisor shall, at a minimum, conduct an annual
1503 review of voter registration records to identify registration
1504 records in which a voter is registered at an address that may
1505 not be an address of legal residence for the voter. For those
1506 registration records with such addresses that the supervisor has
1507 reasonable belief are not legal residential addresses, the
1508 supervisor shall initiate list maintenance activities pursuant
1509 to s. 98.075(6) and (7).
1510 Section 32. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
1511 made by this act to sections 99.061 and 105.031, Florida
1512 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1)
1513 of section 99.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1514 99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
1515 office.—
1516 (1) As used in this section:
1517 (b) “Qualify” means to fulfill the requirements set forth
1518 in s. 99.061(7)(a) or s. 105.031(5)(a).
1519 Section 33. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
1520 made by this act to section 98.015, Florida Statutes, in a
1521 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
1522 101.69, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1523 101.69 Voting in person; return of vote-by-mail ballot.—
1524 (2)(a) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has
1525 received a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted
1526 vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor by placing the return mail
1527 envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a secure ballot
1528 intake station. Secure ballot intake stations shall be placed at
1529 the main office of the supervisor, at each permanent branch
1530 office of the supervisor which meets the criteria set forth in
1531 s. 101.657(1)(a) for branch offices used for early voting and
1532 which is open for at least the minimum number of hours
1533 prescribed by s. 98.015(4), and at each early voting site.
1534 Secure ballot intake stations may also be placed at any other
1535 site that would otherwise qualify as an early voting site under
1536 s. 101.657(1). Secure ballot intake stations must be
1537 geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county
1538 with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is
1539 practicable. Except for secure ballot intake stations at an
1540 office of the supervisor, a secure ballot intake station may
1541 only be used during the county’s early voting hours of operation
1542 and must be monitored in person by an employee of the
1543 supervisor’s office. A secure ballot intake station at an office
1544 of the supervisor must be continuously monitored in person by an
1545 employee of the supervisor’s office when the secure ballot
1546 intake station is accessible for deposit of ballots.
1547 Section 34. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
1548 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
1549 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect January 1,
1550 2027.
1551
1552 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
1553 And the title is amended as follows:
1554 Delete everything before the enacting clause
1555 and insert:
1556 A bill to be entitled
1557 An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.021,
1558 F.S.; revising definitions; defining the term
1559 “document acceptable as evidence of United States
1560 citizenship”; amending s. 97.052, F.S.; revising the
1561 information the uniform statewide voter registration
1562 application is designed to elicit from an applicant to
1563 include a certain acknowledgment; amending s. 97.0525,
1564 F.S.; requiring that the online voter registration
1565 system transmit specified information to the
1566 supervisor of elections under specified circumstances;
1567 requiring that the applicant’s legal status as a
1568 United States citizen be recorded in the statewide
1569 voter registration system; requiring that if the
1570 records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
1571 Vehicles indicate that an applicant is not a United
1572 States citizen or has not provided acceptable evidence
1573 of citizenship, the online voter registration system
1574 must notify the supervisor of the applicant’s legal
1575 status and transmit the application to the supervisor;
1576 providing that an applicant’s digital signature
1577 satisfies a certain requirement; providing that if an
1578 applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be verified,
1579 the system must populate certain information into a
1580 printable version of the registration application;
1581 requiring the applicant to print, complete, sign,
1582 date, and deliver such application to the supervisor;
1583 requiring that the online voter registration system
1584 populate an applicant’s information and direct the
1585 applicant to perform specified actions under specified
1586 conditions; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
1587 97.053, F.S.; specifying that the registration date
1588 for certain valid applications is the date the
1589 application was initially received once certain
1590 evidence is verified; requiring an applicant to
1591 provide certain evidence to the supervisor of
1592 elections to prove the applicant’s legal status under
1593 specified circumstances; requiring supervisors to
1594 verify a voter’s legal status as a United States
1595 citizen using specified sources and initiate a certain
1596 notice if applicable; requiring that the voter’s legal
1597 status as United States citizen and the type of
1598 document accepted as evidence of United States
1599 citizenship be recorded in the statewide voter
1600 registration system; amending s. 97.057, F.S.;
1601 requiring that an agreement between the Department of
1602 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Department
1603 of State match information regarding the citizenship
1604 status of voter registration applicants legal status
1605 as a United States citizen of applicants applying to
1606 vote; requiring the Department of State to include
1607 specified information in the statewide voter
1608 registration system; requiring the Department of
1609 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to assist the
1610 Department of State in identifying certain changes in
1611 information for persons who may be voters; deleting a
1612 provision requiring the Department of State to report
1613 certain changes to supervisors; amending s. 98.015,
1614 F.S.; authorizing the office of the supervisor of
1615 elections to close to observe certain holidays under a
1616 specified condition; amending s. 98.045, F.S.;
1617 requiring supervisors to verify the current
1618 eligibility of certain applicants within a specified
1619 timeframe by reviewing specified information provided
1620 by governmental entities to make a determination under
1621 specified conditions; requiring the supervisor to deny
1622 the application and notify the applicant if a certain
1623 determination is made; amending s. 98.075, F.S.;
1624 requiring the Department of State to identify certain
1625 voters by comparing or receiving information from
1626 specified sources; requiring the Department of State
1627 to review such information and make an initial
1628 determination; requiring the department to notify the
1629 supervisor if certain information is credible and
1630 reliable and provide a copy of specified documentation
1631 to the supervisor; requiring the supervisor to adhere
1632 to specified procedures to remove the voter’s name
1633 from the statewide voter registration system;
1634 requiring the supervisor to record in the statewide
1635 voter registration system the type of document
1636 provided as evidence of United States citizenship;
1637 revising the notice provided to potentially ineligible
1638 voters to conform to changes made by the act; amending
1639 s. 98.093, F.S.; revising the information that the
1640 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is
1641 required to furnish weekly to the Department of State;
1642 requiring the Department of State to report certain
1643 information to supervisors within a specified
1644 timeframe and for supervisors to update the voter
1645 registration records; requiring that the Department of
1646 State use certain information from federal jury
1647 coordinators to identify voters and applicants who are
1648 potentially ineligible; amending s. 99.021, F.S.;
1649 specifying that a person seeking to qualify for office
1650 as a candidate must be a registered member of a
1651 political party, or registered without any party
1652 affiliation, for 365 consecutive days preceding the
1653 beginning of the qualifying before an election;
1654 authorizing qualified candidates or certain political
1655 parties to challenge compliance with specified
1656 provisions by filing an action for declaratory and
1657 injunctive relief in a specified circuit court;
1658 prohibiting a person from being qualified as a
1659 candidate for nomination or election and appearing on
1660 the ballot under specified circumstances; providing
1661 that compliance with specified requirements is
1662 mandatory; authorizing qualified candidates or certain
1663 political parties to challenge compliance with
1664 specified provisions by filing an action for
1665 declaratory and injunctive relief in a specified
1666 circuit court; prohibiting a person from being
1667 qualified as a candidate for nomination or election
1668 and appearing on the ballot under specified
1669 circumstances; creating s. 99.0211, F.S.; requiring
1670 candidates to ensure that they satisfy statutory and
1671 constitutional requirements for office; authorizing
1672 certain candidates, political parties, and affiliated
1673 party committees to challenge compliance with such
1674 requirements in a specified manner; providing that a
1675 person may not qualify as a candidate or appear on the
1676 ballot if the court makes a certain determination;
1677 providing that candidates, political parties, and
1678 affiliated party committees are entitled to expedited
1679 proceedings; requiring supervisors of elections to
1680 remove the names of certain candidates from the ballot
1681 or provide a certain notice to voters; amending s.
1682 99.061, F.S.; revising the list of items a candidate
1683 must submit to the filing officer to be a qualified
1684 candidate to include a certain oath or affirmation;
1685 amending s. 101.043, F.S.; revising the forms of
1686 identification required to be provided at polls;
1687 amending ss. 101.048, 101.151, and 101.5606, F.S.;
1688 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
1689 amending s. 101.56075, F.S.; requiring that all voting
1690 be done by official ballot using certain pens;
1691 providing an exception; amending s. 101.5608, F.S.;
1692 deleting the requirement that the stub be removed from
1693 the ballot and placed in an envelope; conforming
1694 provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss.
1695 101.5612, 101.68, and 101.6923, F.S.; conforming
1696 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
1697 102.111, F.S.; revising the meeting times of the
1698 Elections Canvassing Commission to certify elections
1699 returns; amending s. 102.141, F.S.; revising
1700 requirements for canvassing of ballots; requiring that
1701 supervisors upload certain results by a specified
1702 local time; requiring the supervisors, on behalf of
1703 the canvassing boards, to report all early voting and
1704 all tabulated vote-by-mail ballots to the department;
1705 requiring that updated precinct election results be
1706 uploaded to the department; conforming provisions to
1707 changes made by the act; amending s. 102.166, F.S.;
1708 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
1709 creating s. 104.042, F.S.; requiring that certain
1710 prosecutions be commenced within a specified timeframe
1711 after a specified violation is committed; amending s.
1712 105.031, F.S.; requiring certain candidates to provide
1713 to the filing officer a statement disclosing dual
1714 citizenship for nomination and election to a judicial
1715 office or to a district school board; amending s.
1716 106.023, F.S.; requiring a candidate to provide a
1717 certain oath or affirmation in writing at the time of
1718 filing his or her statement of candidacy; amending s.
1719 106.08, F.S.; prohibiting political parties, political
1720 committees, electioneering communications
1721 organizations, and candidates from knowingly and
1722 willfully accepting or soliciting contributions from
1723 foreign nationals in connection with elections;
1724 creating s. 322.034, F.S.; requiring, by a specified
1725 date, that Florida driver licenses and Florida
1726 identification cards issued to qualified applicants
1727 include the legal citizenship status of the applicant
1728 on the license or card; requiring the Department of
1729 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to issue, at no
1730 charge, renewal or replacement Florida driver licenses
1731 and Florida identification cards to certain licensees
1732 and cardholders; amending s. 895.02, F.S.; revising
1733 the definition of the term “racketeering activity”;
1734 reenacting s. 98.065(6), F.S., relating to
1735 registration list maintenance programs, to incorporate
1736 the amendment made to s. 98.075, F.S., in a reference
1737 thereto; reenacting s. 99.012(1)(b), F.S., relating to
1738 definition of the term “qualify,” to incorporate the
1739 amendments made to ss. 99.061 and 105.031, F.S., in
1740 references thereto; reenacting s. 101.69(2)(a), F.S.,
1741 relating to the offices of the supervisor of elections
1742 being open during elections to receive vote-by-mail
1743 ballots in secure ballot intake stations, to
1744 incorporate the amendment made to s. 98.015, F.S., in
1745 a reference thereto; providing effective dates.