The Florida Senate

101.657  Voting absentee ballots in person.--

(1)  Any qualified and registered elector may pick up and vote an absentee ballot in person at the office of, and under the supervision of, the supervisor of elections. Before receiving the ballot, the elector must present a current and valid picture identification as provided in s. 97.0535(3)(a). If the elector fails to furnish the required identification, or if the supervisor is in doubt as to the identity of the elector, the supervisor must follow the procedure prescribed in s. 101.49 If the elector who fails to furnish the required identification is a first-time voter who registered by mail and has not provided the required identification to the supervisor of elections prior to voting, the elector shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall compare the signature on the provisional ballot envelope with the signature on the voter's registration and, if the signatures match, shall count the ballot.

(2)  As an alternative to the provisions of ss. 101.64 and 101.65, the supervisor of elections may allow an elector to cast an absentee ballot in the main or branch office of the supervisor by depositing the voted ballot in a voting device used by the supervisor to collect or tabulate ballots. The results or tabulation may not be made before the close of the polls on election day.

(a)  The elector must provide identification as required in subsection (1) and must complete an In-Office Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:

IN-OFFICE VOTER CERTIFICATE


I, _____, am a qualified elector in this election and registered voter of _____ County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of _____ County and that I reside at the listed address. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this certificate and have my signature witnessed invalidates my ballot.


 (Voter's Signature) 

 (Address) 

 (City/State) 

 (Name of Witness) 

 (Signature of Witness) 

 (Type of identification provided) 

(b)  Any elector may challenge an elector seeking to cast an absentee ballot under the provisions of s. 101.111 Any challenged ballot must be placed in a regular absentee ballot envelope. The canvassing board shall review the ballot and decide the validity of the ballot by majority vote.

(c)  The canvass of returns for ballots cast under this subsection shall be substantially the same as votes cast by electors in precincts, as provided in s. 101.5614

History.--s. 17, ch. 98-129; s. 2, ch. 2000-249; s. 55, ch. 2001-40; s. 21, ch. 2003-415.