Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1669 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 1669 2024
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8	8	hb1669-00
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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.021, 2
16	16	F.S.; providing a definition; amending s. 101.015, 3
17	17	F.S.; requiring the Department of State to adopt rules 4
18	18	relating to the security of certain voting procedures; 5
19	19	requiring the department to create a certain manual; 6
20	20	requiring the department to adopt by rule certain 7
21	21	minimum security standards; requiring a county 8
22	22	canvassing board to enforce such standards; requiring 9
23	23	a county canvassing board to reconcile certain ballots 10
24	24	and forms; requiring the department to ado pt rules for 11
25	25	the physical security of election materials and 12
26	26	technology, absentee vote process reporting and 13
27	27	observation, and manual cross -checks for certain 14
28	28	systems; amending s. 101.131, F.S.; authorizing 15
29	29	political action committees and political committe es 16
30	30	to have poll watchers in polling rooms and early 17
31	31	voting areas; revising the date before which poll 18
32	32	watchers must be designated; revising the information 19
33	33	that must be on a poll watcher's identification badge; 20
34	34	prohibiting a poll watcher from wearing anoth er poll 21
35	35	watcher's identification badge; creating s. 101.132, 22
36	36	F.S.; authorizing certain persons to designate 23
37	37	watchers for absentee vote processing locations; 24
38	38	providing requirements for absentee vote processing 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1669 2024
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45	45	hb1669-00
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	location work areas and the number of watchers who may 26
52	52	observe in each area; providing requirements for such 27
53	53	watchers; requiring the department to adopt by rule a 28
54	54	certain manual; requiring the department to prescribe 29
55	55	certain forms; requiring a supervisor of elections to 30
56	56	accept certain forms; prohibitin g certain persons from 31
57	57	being designated as watchers; providing requirements 32
58	58	for watcher identification badges; amending s. 101.21, 33
59	59	F.S.; providing requirements for printed ballots and 34
60	60	voter certificate envelopes; requiring a supervisor of 35
61	61	elections to complete a certain report; requiring a 36
62	62	county canvassing board to review and approve such 37
63	63	report before an election is certified; amending s. 38
64	64	101.545, F.S.; requiring the retention of envelopes, 39
65	65	seals, and video recordings for a certain period; 40
66	66	authorizing the destruction of certain election 41
67	67	materials after a certain audit is completed; amending 42
68	68	s. 101.5614, F.S.; requiring certain information to be 43
69	69	entered on certain forms; requiring certain hand -44
70	70	counted audits; providing requirements for such 45
71	71	audits; prohibiting a tabulator from using networking 46
72	72	communication hardware; authorizing a supervisor to 47
73	73	collect certain data in a certain manner; requiring 48
74	74	certain ballots to be duplicated in the presence of 49
75	75	certain watchers; authorizing a duplicate to be made 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1669 2024
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81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb1669-00
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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86	86
87	87
88	88	by hand duplication; authorizing certain persons to 51
89	89	observe the duplication of ballots; requiring a county 52
90	90	canvassing board to convene in the presence of certain 53
91	91	parties for certain discussions before certification 54
92	92	of the election; amending s. 101.595, F.S.; requir ing 55
93	93	a certain audit to be conducted after each election; 56
94	94	providing requirements for the audit; requiring the 57
95	95	department to adopt rules; amending s. 101.6103, F.S.; 58
96	96	requiring a supervisor of elections to mail ballots 59
97	97	with certain envelopes; requiring a supe rvisor of 60
98	98	elections to use separate postal service billing 61
99	99	permits for certain purposes; revising actions an 62
100	100	elector must take upon receipt of his or her ballot; 63
101	101	providing requirements for a voter certificate 64
102	102	envelope; requiring an elector who requests a 65
103	103	replacement ballot to provide certain identification; 66
104	104	revising the circumstances in which such a ballot is 67
105	105	counted; requiring a supervisor of elections to keep 68
106	106	such ballots stored in an area secured in a specified 69
107	107	manner; amending s. 101.6104, F.S.; requiri ng a ballot 70
108	108	to be treated in a certain manner upon county 71
109	109	canvassing board receipt of a challenge of a voter 72
110	110	certificate envelope or cure affidavit signature; 73
111	111	amending s. 101.62, F.S.; requiring a person 74
112	112	requesting a vote-by-mail ballot to provide and atte st 75
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114	114	HB 1669 2024
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	to an allowed reason for such request; providing such 76
126	126	allowed reasons; requiring voters to provide certain 77
127	127	information in certain written requests for vote -by-78
128	128	mail ballots; removing certain applicability 79
129	129	provisions; providing information that a supervis or of 80
130	130	elections must record for each vote -by-mail ballot 81
131	131	request; revising a statement that must be marked on 82
132	132	certain envelopes; amending s. 101.64, F.S.; revising 83
133	133	the specified envelopes that a supervisor of elections 84
134	134	must enclose with a vote -by-mail ballot; revising the 85
135	135	voter's certificate; amending s. 101.65, F.S.; 86
136	136	revising the instructions that a supervisor of 87
137	137	elections must enclose with a vote -by-mail ballot; 88
138	138	amending s. 101.655, F.S.; requiring a supervisor of 89
139	139	elections to provide bipartisan supervise d voting for 90
140	140	certain absent electors at the request of certain 91
141	141	persons; providing requirements for the transportation 92
142	142	and chain of custody for ballots delivered to and 93
143	143	completed by certain absent voters; requiring a 94
144	144	supervised voting team to verify an elec tor's identity 95
145	145	in a certain manner; amending s. 101.68, F.S.; 96
146	146	requiring a supervisor of elections to subject a 97
147	147	certificate signature, a voter certificate envelope, 98
148	148	and ballot material to certain verification; requiring 99
149	149	a supervisor of elections to evaluate certain photo 100
150	150
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	identification in a certain manner; requiring a county 101
163	163	canvassing board to complete the canvass of certain 102
164	164	ballots within a certain period; requiring a county 103
165	165	canvassing board to make certain ballot comparisons 104
166	166	according to certain records a nd reports; specifying 105
167	167	that certain identification is considered ballot 106
168	168	material and must be presented to certain persons; 107
169	169	providing that certain envelopes are considered 108
170	170	illegal; requiring logs of certain information to be 109
171	171	kept; requiring certain material s to be preserved in a 110
172	172	specified manner and reviewed for certain purposes; 111
173	173	requiring a supervisor of elections to provide direct 112
174	174	links to his or her website in certain circumstances; 113
175	175	revising the vote-by-mail cure affidavit; authorizing 114
176	176	certain persons to inspect certain materials; 115
177	177	requiring the review of certain materials in certain 116
178	178	circumstances; requiring a supervisor of elections to 117
179	179	provide certain persons with certain access to certain 118
180	180	ballot materials; prohibiting a supervisor of 119
181	181	elections from limiti ng the time available to certain 120
182	182	persons to complete a cure affidavit review during 121
183	183	certain periods; providing that a ballot for which a 122
184	184	cure affidavit protest is rejected shall be counted; 123
185	185	requiring county canvassing board minutes to contain 124
186	186	certain information; requiring a supervisor of 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1669 2024
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191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	elections to research certain electors to determine 126
200	200	their voter eligibility; providing that certain 127
201	201	information must be made available to certain persons; 128
202	202	amending s. 101.69, F.S.; revising the process for 129
203	203	marking certain returned ballots as canceled; 130
204	204	requiring certain materials to be submitted to the 131
205	205	Office of Election Crimes and Security for 132
206	206	investigation; revising locations at which secure 133
207	207	ballot intake stations may be placed; requiring 134
208	208	certain daily inspection of secure ballot intake 135
209	209	stations during early voting; subjecting a supervisor 136
210	210	of elections to a civil penalty in certain 137
211	211	circumstances; amending s. 101.6921, F.S.; revising 138
212	212	the specified envelopes that a supervisor of elections 139
213	213	must enclose with a vote -by-mail ballot; revising the 140
214	214	voter's certificate; amending s. 101.6923, F.S.; 141
215	215	revising the instructions that a supervisor of 142
216	216	elections must enclose with certain vote -by-mail 143
217	217	ballots; amending s. 102.012, F.S.; requiring a 144
218	218	supervisor of elections to recruit absentee vo te 145
219	219	processing workers; requiring such workers to 146
220	220	subscribe to an oath or affirmation and meet certain 147
221	221	qualifications; amending s. 102.014, F.S.; requiring a 148
222	222	supervisor of elections to conduct required training 149
223	223	for absentee vote processing workers; requirin g the 150
224	224
225	225	HB 1669 2024
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227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	department to develop certain uniform training 151
237	237	procedures for use by supervisors of elections; 152
238	238	requiring such workers to demonstrate a working 153
239	239	knowledge of certain laws and procedures; requiring a 154
240	240	supervisor of elections to appoint a replacement for 155
241	241	such a worker in certain circumstances; prohibiting an 156
242	242	absent vote processing worker from working in a work 157
243	243	area unless he or she completes certain minimum 158
244	244	training requirements; requiring the department to 159
245	245	create and adopt by rule an absentee vote process ing 160
246	246	procedures manual; providing requirements for such 161
247	247	manual; requiring the department to revise the manual 162
248	248	as necessary; amending s. 102.141, F.S.; revising 163
249	249	county canvassing board composition; authorizing a 164
250	250	supervisor of elections to appoint a municipal 165
251	251	official as a substitute member of the county 166
252	252	canvassing board; requiring a specified quorum of the 167
253	253	county canvassing board for certain proceedings; 168
254	254	requiring real-time video monitoring of county 169
255	255	canvassing board meetings; requiring meeting minutes 170
256	256	to be published on the supervisor of elections' 171
257	257	website; requiring the county canvassing board to 172
258	258	review certain reports each day and take certain 173
259	259	actions; requiring the county canvassing board to 174
260	260	review certain information before certifying an 175
261	261
262	262	HB 1669 2024
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266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	election; requiring the county canvassing board to 176
274	274	address certain discrepancies in a certain manner; 177
275	275	requiring a special election in certain circumstances; 178
276	276	authorizing the removal from office of the supervisor 179
277	277	of elections in certain circumstances; requiring a 180
278	278	manual recount to use original paper ballots and voter 181
279	279	certificate envelopes in certain circumstances; 182
280	280	revising requirements for a county canvassing board 183
281	281	conducting a recount; amending s. 102.166, F.S.; 184
282	282	authorizing a candidate to request a manual recount of 185
283	283	certain votes after a first set of unofficial returns 186
284	284	in certain circumstances; revising the percentage of 187
285	285	votes by which a candidate is defeated upon which a 188
286	286	manual recount of certain votes is required; providing 189
287	287	requirements for such recounts; authorizing certai n 190
288	288	governmental entities to request a manual recount in 191
289	289	certain circumstances; requiring a certain audit to be 192
290	290	conducted upon delivery of a certain petition; 193
291	291	providing requirements for such audit; requiring a 194
292	292	manual audit in certain races for which a specif ied 195
293	293	discrepancy exists; conforming a cross -reference; 196
294	294	amending s. 104.21, F.S.; providing that an election 197
295	295	worker who changes certain envelope information or 198
296	296	markings commits a misdemeanor; providing criminal 199
297	297	penalties; providing criminal penalties; creati ng s. 200
298	298
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	104.291, F.S.; providing that a poll worker who wears 201
311	311	the poll worker identification badge of another 202
312	312	commits a misdemeanor; providing criminal penalties; 203
313	313	amending s. 104.30, F.S.; providing that a person who 204
314	314	prints certain ballots or voter certifica te envelopes 205
315	315	without authorization commits a felony; providing 206
316	316	criminal penalties; providing an effective date. 207
317	317	208
318	318	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 209
319	319	210
320	320	Section 1. Subsections (25) through (47) of section 211
321	321	97.021, Florida Statutes , are renumbered as subsections (26) 212
322	322	through (48), respectively, and a new subsection (25) is added 213
323	323	to that section, to read: 214
324	324	97.021 Definitions. —For the purposes of this code, except 215
325	325	where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: 216
326	326	(25) "Other election system" means any information 217
327	327	technology other than a voting system which is used in the 218
328	328	election process and which is capable of adding, deleting, or 219
329	329	modifying ballots or votes or which stores critical election 220
330	330	data. The term includes hosted tec hnologies and service 221
331	331	providers that store or have access to critical election data. 222
332	332	The term also includes, but is not limited to, the voter 223
333	333	registration system, electronic precinct registers, tabulation 224
334	334	systems, mail sorters, election night reporting sys tems, ballot 225
335	335
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340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347	347	tracking solutions, and future technologies integrated into the 226
348	348	election process. 227
349	349	Section 2. Subsections (5), (6), and (7) of section 228
350	350	101.015, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (9), 229
351	351	(10), and (11), respectively, subsections ( 3) and (4) and 230
352	352	present subsection (6) are amended, and new subsections (5), 231
353	353	(6), and (7) are added to that section, to read: 232
354	354	101.015 Standards for voting systems. — 233
355	355	(3) The Department of State shall adopt rules to achieve 234
356	356	and maintain the maximum degree of correctness, impartiality, 235
357	357	and efficiency, and security of the procedures of in-person and 236
358	358	absentee voting, including write -in voting, and of counting, 237
359	359	tabulating, and recording votes by voting systems and other 238
360	360	election systems used in this state. 239
361	361	(4)(a) The Department of State shall adopt rules 240
362	362	establishing minimum security standards for voting systems and 241
363	363	create an absentee ballot processing manual adopted by rule that 242
364	364	is composed of such standards . The standards, at a minimum, must 243
365	365	address the following: 244
366	366	1. chain of custody of ballots, including chain of custody 245
367	367	forms and procedures for ballots returned by mail, secure ballot 246
368	368	intake stations, in-person return, or facsimile, which extend 247
369	369	through the work areas of the absentee vote counting locatio n 248
370	370	and to storage. Chain of custody standards must: 249
371	371	1. Enable monitoring of the ballot transport and receiving 250
372	372
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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382	382
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384	384	process by the county canvassing board and monitoring of 251
385	385	precertification audits and postcertification procedural audits. 252
386	386	2. Include validatio n and reporting by the county 253
387	387	canvassing board on a daily basis during the election that the 254
388	388	required chain of custody forms are properly completed, that 255
389	389	chain of custody is not broken, that any exceptions are noted 256
390	390	with an action plan to resolve, and that sent and received 257
391	391	ballot quantities and seals match and are consistent with the 258
392	392	seal number ranges and ballot transport container numbers 259
393	393	assigned to particular locations. Such validation and reporting 260
394	394	shall include objective measures for determining ball ot 261
395	395	quantities received at the vote counting location and to 262
396	396	determine quantities when moved between work areas of the vote 263
397	397	counting location. 264
398	398	3. Require that appropriate corrective measures as 265
399	399	determined by the department be taken immediately when the ch ain 266
400	400	of custody is broken. Such measures must include notification 267
401	401	and reasonable steps to correct the issue, employee education, 268
402	402	disciplinary actions, reassignment, penalties, or criminal 269
403	403	referral. 270
404	404	4. Provide definitions for and examples of acts that 271
405	405	constitute an excessive transport time; a broken seal; a marking 272
406	406	that is not legally binding, such as overwritten data entry 273
407	407	without proper notation; missing or disparate ballot quantities; 274
408	408	and other circumstances that constitute a broken chain of 275
409	409
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421	421	custody. 276
422	422	5. Prohibit the comingling of absentee ballots from a 277
423	423	secure ballot intake station, the United States Postal Service, 278
424	424	in-person return at the supervisor's office or vote counting 279
425	425	location, or facsimile until the chain of custody validation is 280
426	426	completed from each source. 281
427	427	6. When return ballot postage is prepaid by a supervisor, 282
428	428	require the supervisor to have separate post office billing 283
429	429	permits dedicated to and used exclusively for outgoing ballots 284
430	430	and returned ballots to enable auditing. Post office bill ing 285
431	431	records must be reconciled on a daily basis with the number of 286
432	432	absentee ballots sent to and received from the United States 287
433	433	Postal Service. The supervisor may not use the post office 288
434	434	billing permits required under this sub -subparagraph for mailing 289
435	435	of other items. 290
436	436	7. When return ballot postage is not prepaid by a 291
437	437	supervisor, require the supervisor to employ other means to 292
438	438	reconcile the number of completed ballots transported between 293
439	439	the post office box and the absentee vote counting location or 294
440	440	have the ballots delivered directly to the absentee vote 295
441	441	counting location. 296
442	442	8. Require that ballots returned by registered mail be 297
443	443	accepted and tracked in a log used for auditing purposes, if the 298
444	444	supervisor or voter chooses to pay for the service. 299
445	445	9. Require chain of custody forms for completed ballots 300
446	446
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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457	457
458	458	from secure intake stations to include fields for the following: 301
459	459	a. The address of the secure ballot intake station 302
460	460	location and ballot transport container number. 303
461	461	b. Date and time. 304
462	462	c. Verification that th e secure ballot intake station was 305
463	463	empty at the beginning of the day with one verifier from each 306
464	464	major political party who shall sign and print his or her name 307
465	465	and then write either "empty" or " not empty" to reflect the 308
466	466	state in which he or she found the intake receptacle. 309
467	467	d. The printed names and signatures of two persons who 310
468	468	count the ballots in the secure ballot intake station for 311
469	469	transport at the close of the day's authorized voting hours, 312
470	470	place the ballots in an assigned ballot transport container, and 313
471	471	place a seal on the ballot transport container. 314
472	472	e. The seal number placed on the ballot transport 315
473	473	container. 316
474	474	f. The printed names and signatures of two transporters 317
475	475	accepting custody of the sealed voter certificate envelopes and 318
476	476	the seal number observed. 319
477	477	g. The transport vehicle type and license plate number. 320
478	478	h. Transporter departure time, the seal number on the 321
479	479	ballot transport container, and checkbox that the seal is intact 322
480	480	at the handoff. 323
481	481	i. The printed names and signatures of two vote coun ting 324
482	482	center staff accepting custody of the voter certificate 325
483	483
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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495	495	envelopes from transporters, the date, time, the seal number, 326
496	496	checkbox that the seal is intact, the quantity counted and 327
497	497	method used to count. 328
498	498	j. The ballot transport container number. 329
499	499	k. Explanations for form anomalies or missing data, 330
500	500	including excessive transport times, which includes any 331
501	501	documented period of transport that exceeds 12 hours. 332
502	502	10. Require the supervisor to be notified if a ballot is 333
503	503	found in the secure ballot intake station at the beginning of 334
504	504	the day. The supervisor shall research the origin of the ballot 335
505	505	and if the supervisor determines that the ballot was placed in 336
506	506	the intake receptacle during authorized voting hours during the 337
507	507	previous day, the ballot shall be processed. If the supervisor 338
508	508	determines that the ballot was placed in the intake receptacle 339
509	509	outside of authorized voting hours or that the ballot envelope 340
510	510	does not display a valid county election serial number, the 341
511	511	supervisor shall notify the voter that his or her b allot may not 342
512	512	be counted unless it is cured, send the voter instructions to 343
513	513	complete a cure affidavit, and refer the matter to the Office of 344
514	514	Election Crimes and Security for investigation. 345
515	515	11. Provide that the facsimile used to send and receive 346
516	516	uniformed and overseas voter ballots may only be used for that 347
517	517	function, and the facsimile transmission logs shall be printed 348
518	518	daily, retained, and made available to the county canvassing 349
519	519	board, state and county inspectors and auditors, and public 350
520	520
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525	525	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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532	532	watchers. 351
533	533	12. Require the maintenance of ballot -on-demand print 352
534	534	logs. The logs must be made available to the county canvassing 353
535	535	board, state and county inspectors and auditors, and public 354
536	536	watchers. 355
537	537	13. Require, after the county canvassing board completes 356
538	538	the daily validation of the chain of custody, the number of 357
539	539	absentee ballots received at the vote counting location by 358
540	540	source to be posted daily on the supervisor's website. Any chain 359
541	541	of custody or validation issues must be noted in the daily chain 360
542	542	of custody report, ente red into the county canvassing board's 361
543	543	minutes, and reported to the department. 362
544	544	14. Require each ballot and envelope to have a unique 363
545	545	county election serial number. The unique county election serial 364
546	546	number must include at least 11 digits. The first 2 dig its must 365
547	547	identify the county and the next 4 digits must identify the 366
548	548	month and year of the election. Such numbers may not be repeated 367
549	549	for 5 years. A supervisor must ensure that vendors are properly 368
550	550	allocated distinct ranges of numbers and that produced mat erials 369
551	551	contain only the allocated ranges of numbers before the ballots 370
552	552	and envelopes are mailed. Additional security measures must be 371
553	553	implemented to protect ballots from being illegally duplicated, 372
554	554	distributed, or inserted, including the sourcing of ballot s and 373
555	555	envelopes to separate vendors. 374
556	556	(b) The standards included in the absentee ballot 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1669 2024
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560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb1669-00
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565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	processing manual shall be enforced by the county canvassing 376
570	570	board before opening voter certificate envelopes and by audit 377
571	571	before election certification with disciplin ary penalties for 378
572	572	noncompliance. The county canvassing board manual must include 379
573	573	monitoring of the chain of custody of ballots and portable 380
574	574	storage media, manual cross -check reports, and manual count 381
575	575	procedures. 382
576	576	(c) Before certifying an election, the cou nty canvassing 383
577	577	board shall reconcile the number of ballots transported from 384
578	578	secure ballot intake stations, the United States Postal Service, 385
579	579	in-person return at the supervisor's office or vote counting 386
580	580	location, and facsimile with the number of absentee ba llots 387
581	581	counted. The county canvassing board shall also reconcile the 388
582	582	chain of custody forms with the number of ballots transported 389
583	583	from the vote counting location to storage and the number of 390
584	584	ballots counted. Both reconciliation reports require approval by 391
585	585	the Department of State before certification of the election and 392
586	586	must be promptly published on the supervisor's website. 393
587	587	(5) The Department of State shall develop rules for the 394
588	588	physical security of election materials and technology, which 395
589	589	must include all of the following: 396
590	590	(a) Standards for building security at absentee vote 397
591	591	counting locations. Electronic badge access must be required to 398
592	592	gain access to the absentee vote counting location and to secure 399
593	593	storage areas within the building. All employees and visitors, 400
594	594
595	595	HB 1669 2024
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
600	600	hb1669-00
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602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	including vendors, must be required to visibly wear photo 401
607	607	identification badges at all times. 402
608	608	(b) An absentee vote counting location must be in the 403
609	609	supervisor of election's office or a standalone building that 404
610	610	may include gated fencing. Absent ee vote counting locations must 405
611	611	have video surveillance of all building and parking lot entries 406
612	612	and exits. 407
613	613	(c) Cable and other ports must be sealed on all systems 408
614	614	left unattended overnight at any early voting location. 409
615	615	(d) Secure ballot intake station standards which require 410
616	616	the secure ballot intake station to be located inside polling 411
617	617	places or main and, if used, branch offices of a supervisor. A 412
618	618	supervisor may only use a brand or model of secure ballot intake 413
619	619	station that the Department of State has c ertified as secure. 414
620	620	Secure ballot intake stations must be inspected and audited by 415
621	621	bipartisan state or county teams accompanied by public watchers. 416
622	622	(e) Ballots must be transported by at least two persons, 417
623	623	each representing a different major political par ty. A duplicate 418
624	624	copy of the ballot transport form must be placed inside the 419
625	625	ballot transport container before the container is sealed. 420
626	626	(f) Once received at a vote counting location, a sealed 421
627	627	ballot transport container must be stored in a secured area 422
628	628	under video surveillance and only accessible by electronic badge 423
629	629	access. Compliance shall be validated by the county canvassing 424
630	630	board with public observation. 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1669 2024
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634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb1669-00
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639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	(g) A prohibition of the opening of any sealed container 426
644	644	of completed ballots without observati on by members of both 427
645	645	major parties and the public. 428
646	646	(h) Portable storage media must be stored in a secured 429
647	647	area under video surveillance and only accessible by electronic 430
648	648	badge access. 431
649	649	(i) Chain of custody of ballots, including a detailed 432
650	650	description of forms and procedures to create a complete record 433
651	651	of custody of ballots and paper outputs, must begin with the 434
652	652	ballot design and the receipt of ballots from all sources until 435
653	653	such time as the ballots are destroyed. 436
654	654	(6) The Department of State shall adop t rules providing 437
655	655	absentee vote process reporting and observation requirements of 438
656	656	the supervisor of elections to state, county, and public 439
657	657	preelection inspectors, election monitors, preelection 440
658	658	certification audits, and postelection certification procedura l 441
659	659	audits. The rules shall include: 442
660	660	(a) Reporting during and after the election cycle. 443
661	661	(b) Video viewing, video streaming of all ballot 444
662	662	processing, video recording storage, and public records requests 445
663	663	for video recordings. 446
664	664	(c) In-person observation. 447
665	665	(d) United States Postal Service liaison and monitoring. 448
666	666	(e) A ballot accounting report that shall be completed by 449
667	667	the supervisor and reviewed by the canvassing board before 450
668	668
669	669	HB 1669 2024
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb1669-00
675	675	Page 19 of 112
676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	election certification. The ballot accounting report shall 451
681	681	reconcile: 452
682	682	1. The number of ballots tabulated in precincts, the 453
683	683	number of voters that checked in, and the number of ballots 454
684	684	counted during each day of early voting and election day. 455
685	685	2. The number of absentee ballots tabulated in the 456
686	686	absentee vote processing location each day and the chain of 457
687	687	custody form ballot totals from secure ballot intake stations, 458
688	688	the United States Postal Service, facsimile logs, and in -person 459
689	689	drop off each day. 460
690	690	3. The number of absentee ballots mailed out equals the 461
691	691	number of outbound ballots bill ed by the post office. 462
692	692	4. The number of ballots acquired or printed, including 463
693	693	ballot-on-demand ballots, equals the number of ballots used, 464
694	694	unused, spoiled, duplicated, and unreturned. 465
695	695	(f) Audits must be conducted by bipartisan state and 466
696	696	county audit teams with public observation to confirm that the 467
697	697	required chain of custody forms and processes are in compliance. 468
698	698	Such audits shall include examination of post office billing 469
699	699	records, fax logs, and chain of custody forms. The rules must 470
700	700	provide for disciplinary actions and criminal referrals when 471
701	701	appropriate. The rules shall require that if it is determined in 472
702	702	a postcertification audit that the number of ballots involved in 473
703	703	chain of custody breaches in an election exceed the margin of 474
704	704	victory in any race in that election, such race shall be deemed 475
705	705
706	706	HB 1669 2024
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
711	711	hb1669-00
712	712	Page 20 of 112
713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	invalid and a special election must be held to fill the office 476
718	718	in accordance with chapter 100. If an audit failure is 477
719	719	determined to be due to chain of custody mismanagement, an audit 478
720	720	failure report shall be generat ed by the Secretary of State and 479
721	721	made available to the public and the supervisor may be 480
722	722	disciplined or removed from office. 481
723	723	(7) The Department of State shall adopt rules that include 482
724	724	manual cross-checks for legacy systems and systems that have 483
725	725	networking or other communication capability to ensure that such 484
726	726	systems have not been compromised by unauthorized changes in 485
727	727	settings, data manipulation, or malware. The rules must include: 486
728	728	(a) Early voting sites shall reconcile and report daily at 487
729	729	the close of authorized voting hours the: 488
730	730	1. Number of ballots tabulated by precinct tabulator as 489
731	731	calculated by subtracting the cumulative tabulator count at the 490
732	732	end of the prior day from the cumulative count of the current 491
733	733	day. 492
734	734	2. Number of completed ballots process ed through the 493
735	735	precinct tabulator and transported to storage. 494
736	736	3. Number of voters who checked in to the precinct. 495
737	737	4. Number of blank ballots processed through precinct 496
738	738	tabulator. All blank ballots must be placed in a separate 497
739	739	envelope to enable auditin g. 498
740	740	(b) After the polls are closed on the first day of early 499
741	741	voting and on election day, precinct poll workers shall conduct 500
742	742
743	743	HB 1669 2024
744	744
745	745
746	746
747	747	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
748	748	hb1669-00
749	749	Page 21 of 112
750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	a hand-count audit of both a randomly chosen race and the race 501
755	755	for the highest office on the ballot. In view of the public, 502
756	756	ballots shall be placed in stacks according to the candidate 503
757	757	chosen on the ballots for that race. Those ballots shall be 504
758	758	hand-counted by a poll worker from each of the two largest 505
759	759	political parties and the candidate choice verified. This 506
760	760	process must be repeated as necessary until the hand count 507
761	761	totals from each poll worker match. Hand count totals must be 508
762	762	noted and compared to the machine count. Any discrepancies must 509
763	763	be flagged and reported to the supervisor of elections office 510
764	764	and posted for the public. The su pervisor must verify any 511
765	765	discrepancies over the next 3 days with interested members of 512
766	766	the public and at least one person from each major political 513
767	767	party present. If the supervisor determines that there is a 514
768	768	discrepancy, all ballots for the entire precinct must be hand 515
769	769	counted and those results, once verified, shall override the 516
770	770	machine count. 517
771	771	(c) During each day of absentee ballot canvassing, 518
772	772	election workers shall at least once daily conduct hand -count 519
773	773	cross-checks for each tabulator of a randomly chose n race on 520
774	774	batches of ballots. In view of the public, ballots must be 521
775	775	placed in stacks according to the candidate chosen on the 522
776	776	ballots for that race. Those ballots shall be hand counted and 523
777	777	verified and any discrepancies flagged, reported, and verified 524
778	778	according to the process required under paragraph (b). If the 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1669 2024
781	781
782	782
783	783
784	784	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
785	785	hb1669-00
786	786	Page 22 of 112
787	787	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	supervisor determines that there is a discrepancy, all ballots 526
792	792	for the entire precinct must be hand counted and those results, 527
793	793	once verified, shall override the machine count. Any tabulator 528
794	794	that produces erroneous results must be taken out of service 529
795	795	until the cause of the error is determined and corrected. When 530
796	796	random batches are analyzed the contents of output sorter bins 531
797	797	must be inspected to validate proper sorting. 532
798	798	(d) If an automated signatur e verification system is used, 533
799	799	the settings must be verified and documented four times each 534
800	800	day. The settings shall be corrected if the settings are found 535
801	801	to be out of compliance. After such verification and, if 536
802	802	necessary, correction, signatures on 20 vote r certificates must 537
803	803	be compared manually to determine if the signature verification 538
804	804	algorithm is functioning properly. If there is a discrepancy, 539
805	805	signatures must be verified manually until the system is 540
806	806	replaced or the cause of the issue is determined and corrected. 541
807	807	The employee performing this verification must sign and print 542
808	808	his or her name, the date, the time, and the outcome. 543
809	809	(e) If an automated target duplication is utilized, four 544
810	810	times each day, 20 original ballots must be compared to the 545
811	811	original ballot displayed on the duplication machine console to 546
812	812	ensure that the ballot is correctly displayed. If the display is 547
813	813	inconsistent, duplication must be completed manually until the 548
814	814	cause of the issue is determined and corrected. 549
815	815	(f) If an outbound mail assembly and sorter is used, the 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1669 2024
818	818
819	819
820	820
821	821	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
822	822	hb1669-00
823	823	Page 23 of 112
824	824	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	transfer of outgoing ballots from the dock shall be under video 551
829	829	surveillance. After each batch is assembled and sorted, the 552
830	830	batch report quantity must be compared to the number of ballots 553
831	831	received at the dock as determined by weight. 554
832	832	(g) If an inbound mail sorter is utilized, the number of 555
833	833	inbound envelopes processed daily must be compared to the number 556
834	834	of ballots received at the dock as documented in chain of 557
835	835	custody forms from secure ballot intake stations and the United 558
836	836	States Postal Service. 559
837	837	(h) The voter registration database must be analyzed 560
838	838	monthly for registration anomalies. Any anomalies shall be 561
839	839	investigated and corrected. The database must be backed up daily 562
840	840	using a method that preserves the history of any chan ges made in 563
841	841	a manner that allows for restoration to previous versions of the 564
842	842	history at any time. The supervisor shall use a department -565
843	843	approved storage device that uses technologies such as write 566
844	844	once, read many, or "WORM," as appropriate. The supervisor must 567
845	845	immediately, automatically, and securely transmit to the 568
846	846	department an identical copy of the database backup. The 569
847	847	supervisor and the department must each retain the database 570
848	848	backup for at least 5 years. Such backups may be used by 571
849	849	internal auditors, i ndependent third party auditors, major 572
850	850	political parties, and the public for the purpose of auditing 573
851	851	voter registration transactions. 574
852	852	(i) Any changes or additions made in the 60 -day period 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1669 2024
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
859	859	hb1669-00
860	860	Page 24 of 112
861	861	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	preceding election day must be tracked and audited by an 576
866	866	independent auditor. Audit reports shall be made available to 577
867	867	the public at no charge and must include mode and location of 578
868	868	unauthorized new registrations, registration updates, or 579
869	869	deletions occurring in the 60 -day period preceding election day, 580
870	870	and the voted status of every registrant registered to vote in 581
871	871	the election. A person may not be removed from the voter roll 582
872	872	until the audit is complete. An archived dataset shall be 583
873	873	maintained of persons removed from the voter roll which includes 584
874	874	each person's voting histo ry for auditing purposes. The archived 585
875	875	dataset shall be included on request with any distribution of 586
876	876	the voter roll. 587
877	877	(j) If new technologies are tested during an election, the 588
878	878	supervisor shall post, in a conspicuous location visible to the 589
879	879	public within the vote counting center and all election 590
880	880	locations, a notice providing the location, date, and time of 591
881	881	such testing. All machines and election equipment in testing 592
882	882	shall clearly be labeled as such. 593
883	883	(k) Procedures for manual counts, which must include fo r 594
884	884	video recording and public observation. a detailed description 595
885	885	of procedures to create a complete written record of the chain 596
886	886	of custody of ballots and paper outputs beginning with their 597
887	887	receipt from a printer or manufacturer until such time as they 598
888	888	are destroyed. 599
889	889	2. Transport of ballots, including a description of the 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1669 2024
892	892
893	893
894	894
895	895	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
896	896	hb1669-00
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898	898	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	method and equipment used and a detailed list of the names of 601
903	903	all individuals involved in such transport. 602
904	904	3. Ballot security, including a requirement that all 603
905	905	ballots be kept in a locke d room in the supervisor's office, a 604
906	906	facility controlled by the supervisor or county canvassing 605
907	907	board, or a public place in which the county canvassing board is 606
908	908	canvassing votes until needed for canvassing and returned 607
909	909	thereafter. 608
910	910	(8)(a)(b)1. Each supervisor shall establish written 609
911	911	procedures to assure accuracy and security in his or her county, 610
912	912	including procedures related to early voting pursuant to s. 611
913	913	101.657. Such procedures shall be reviewed in each odd -numbered 612
914	914	year by the department. 613
915	915	(b)2. Each supervisor shall submit any revisions to the 614
916	916	security procedures to the department at least 45 days before 615
917	917	early voting commences pursuant to s. 101.657 in an election in 616
918	918	which they are to take effect. 617
919	919	(10)(6) All electronic and electromechanical voting 618
920	920	systems purchased on or after January 1, 1990, must meet the 619
921	921	minimum standards established under subsection (1). All 620
922	922	electronic and electromechanical voting systems in use on or 621
923	923	after July 1, 1993, must meet the minimum standards established 622
924	924	under subsection (1) or subsection (9) (5). 623
925	925	Section 3. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section 624
926	926	101.131, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1669 2024
929	929
930	930
931	931
932	932	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
933	933	hb1669-00
934	934	Page 26 of 112
935	935	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	101.131 Watchers at polls. — 626
940	940	(1) Each political party , political action committee, 627
941	941	political committee, and each candidate may have one watcher in 628
942	942	each polling room or early voting area at any one time during 629
943	943	the election. A political committee formed for the specific 630
944	944	purpose of expressly advocating the passage or defeat of an 631
945	945	issue on the ballot may have one watche r for each polling room 632
946	946	or early voting area at any one time during the election. A No 633
947	947	watcher may shall be permitted to come as close closer to the 634
948	948	officials' table, tabulator, secure ballot intake station, or 635
949	949	the voting booths as than is reasonably necessary to properly 636
950	950	perform his or her functions, and but each shall be allowed 637
951	951	within the polling room or early voting area to watch and 638
952	952	observe the conduct of electors and officials. The poll watchers 639
953	953	shall furnish their own materials and necessities and sh all not 640
954	954	obstruct the orderly conduct of any election. The poll watchers 641
955	955	shall pose any questions regarding polling place procedures 642
956	956	directly to the clerk for resolution. Poll watchers They may not 643
957	957	interact with voters. Each poll watcher shall be a qualifie d and 644
958	958	registered elector of the county in which he or she serves. 645
959	959	(2) Each political party, political action committee, each 646
960	960	political committee, and each candidate requesting to have poll 647
961	961	watchers shall designate, in writing to the supervisors of 648
962	962	elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon of 649
963	963	the second Tuesday preceding the election poll watchers for each 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1669 2024
966	966
967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
970	970	hb1669-00
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972	972	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	polling room on election day. Designations of poll watchers for 651
977	977	early voting areas shall be submitted in writing to the 652
978	978	supervisor of elections, on a form prescribed by the division, 653
979	979	before noon on the 5th business day at least 14 days before 654
980	980	early voting begins. The poll watchers for polling rooms shall 655
981	981	be approved by the supervisor of elections on or before the 656
982	982	Tuesday before the elec tion. Poll watchers for early voting 657
983	983	areas shall be approved by the supervisor of elections no later 658
984	984	than 7 days before early voting begins. The supervisor shall 659
985	985	furnish to each election board a list of the poll watchers 660
986	986	designated and approved for such po lling rooms or early voting 661
987	987	areas. Designation of poll watchers shall be made by the chair 662
988	988	of the county executive committee of a political party, the 663
989	989	chair of a political action committee, the chair of a political 664
990	990	committee, or the candidate requesting to have poll watchers. 665
991	991	(5) The supervisor of elections shall provide to each 666
992	992	designated poll watcher an identification badge which identifies 667
993	993	the poll watcher by first name and last initial. Each poll 668
994	994	watcher must wear his or her identification badge while 669
995	995	performing his or her duties. A poll watcher may not wear 670
996	996	another poll watcher's identification badge. A poll watcher who 671
997	997	wears another poll watcher's identification badge shall be 672
998	998	reported to the supervisor and may be removed from the premises 673
999	999	for the day. 674
1000	1000	Section 4. Section 101.132, Florida Statutes, is created 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1669 2024
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1009	1009	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	to read: 676
1014	1014	101.132 Watchers at absentee vote processing locations. — 677
1015	1015	(1) Each political party, political action committee, 678
1016	1016	political committee, and candidate may designate one absentee 679
1017	1017	vote processing watcher to observe in each of the following work 680
1018	1018	areas of the absentee vote counting location or any other 681
1019	1019	location at any time during the election process where the 682
1020	1020	following functions are performed: 683
1021	1021	(a) Outgoing ballot assembly, sorting, and mailing. 684
1022	1022	(b) Secure ballot intake stations. 685
1023	1023	(c) Transport vehicle loading and unloading. 686
1024	1024	(d) Incoming ballot receiving and sorting. 687
1025	1025	(e) An automated voter certificate envelope signature 688
1026	1026	verification process. 689
1027	1027	(f) A manual voter certificate envelop e signature review 690
1028	1028	process. 691
1029	1029	(g) Staff signature review of cure affidavits. 692
1030	1030	(h) Voter certificate envelope opening. 693
1031	1031	(i) Duplication. 694
1032	1032	(j) Tabulation. 695
1033	1033	(2)(a) Each work area shall be designed and arranged in 696
1034	1034	advance by the supervisor to provide adequ ate space for at least 697
1035	1035	four watchers at any given time. Different watchers may observe 698
1036	1036	simultaneously on behalf of a candidate, political party, 699
1037	1037	political action committee, or political committee in different 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1669 2024
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1044	1044	hb1669-00
1045	1045	Page 29 of 112
1046	1046	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1047	1047
1048	1048
1049	1049
1050	1050	work areas. 701
1051	1051	(b) If more than two party, polit ical action committee, 702
1052	1052	political committee, or candidate watchers are designated to 703
1053	1053	observe in a specified work area with limited space in the same 704
1054	1054	time period, the first two watchers from each major party for 705
1055	1055	which designations are received shall be allow ed to observe. 706
1056	1056	(c) Two public watchers may also be present in each work 707
1057	1057	area at any given time. If more than two public watchers request 708
1058	1058	to observe in a specified work area with limited space in the 709
1059	1059	same time period, the first two watchers from different 710
1060	1060	political parties for which requests are received shall be 711
1061	1061	allowed to observe. 712
1062	1062	(d) If a work area is not large enough to accommodate at 713
1063	1063	least four watchers, the supervisor may employ alternate methods 714
1064	1064	to enable meaningful observation by a watcher, inclu ding the use 715
1065	1065	of video, mirrored displays, cat walks, or viewing windows. The 716
1066	1066	department must provide criteria for determining whether an 717
1067	1067	alternate observation method enables meaningful observation. 718
1068	1068	(e) When direct observation of manual processes or machine 719
1069	1069	operators is conducted, each work area is limited to one watcher 720
1070	1070	for each staff member conducting operations. 721
1071	1071	(f) Work area watchers may come as close as is reasonably 722
1072	1072	necessary to properly observe workers and technology without 723
1073	1073	impeding workflow. The absentee vote processing location 724
1074	1074	watchers shall furnish their own materials and necessities and 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1669 2024
1077	1077
1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1081	1081	hb1669-00
1082	1082	Page 30 of 112
1083	1083	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	may not obstruct the orderly conduct of any election. Watchers 726
1088	1088	shall pose any questions regarding absentee vote processing 727
1089	1089	procedures directly to the wor k area supervisor for resolution. 728
1090	1090	Watchers may not provide work direction to absentee vote 729
1091	1091	processing personnel, but may occasionally ask questions for 730
1092	1092	understanding and offer personal greetings. Each watcher must be 731
1093	1093	a qualified and registered elector of t he county in which he or 732
1094	1094	she serves. The department must establish a telephone hotline 733
1095	1095	through which a watcher may report violations of law, including 734
1096	1096	required security standards, and submit a work ticket to a state 735
1097	1097	official. 736
1098	1098	(g) The department shall adopt by rule an absentee vote 737
1099	1099	processing manual that includes guidelines for meaningful 738
1100	1100	observation and reporting for all methods of observation. 739
1101	1101	(3)(a) The department shall prescribe an absentee vote 740
1102	1102	processing watcher request form that allows a person to request 741
1103	1103	to serve as an absentee vote processing watcher at any given 742
1104	1104	location and an absentee vote processing watcher designation 743
1105	1105	form that allows a candidate, political action committee, 744
1106	1106	political committee, or political party to designate a watcher 745
1107	1107	for a specific work area. 746
1108	1108	(b) A request to serve as a watcher for candidate, 747
1109	1109	political action committee, political committee, or political 748
1110	1110	party shall be accepted by the supervisor if received at least 5 749
1111	1111	days, including weekends, before the first day of r equested 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1669 2024
1114	1114
1115	1115
1116	1116
1117	1117	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1118	1118	hb1669-00
1119	1119	Page 31 of 112
1120	1120	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121	1121
1122	1122
1123	1123
1124	1124	observation. A watcher may complete a form for multiple 751
1125	1125	candidates, political action committees, political committees, 752
1126	1126	or political parties. A watcher is not required to be a member 753
1127	1127	of or align with a political party to observe vote processing 754
1128	1128	activities. 755
1129	1129	(c) Public requests to be absentee vote processing 756
1130	1130	watchers shall be accepted by the supervisor if received at 757
1131	1131	least 5 days, including weekends, before the first day of 758
1132	1132	requested observation. A watcher may alternate between work 759
1133	1133	areas and participate on any day of the absentee vote counting 760
1134	1134	process without notice. 761
1135	1135	(d) Different watchers may observe election activities 762
1136	1136	occurring simultaneously on behalf of any candidate, political 763
1137	1137	party, political action committee, or political committee. A 764
1138	1138	watcher who has previously completed an absentee vote processing 765
1139	1139	watcher request form that is filed with the supervisor may 766
1140	1140	substitute for another watcher without prior notice. 767
1141	1141	(e) A watcher may be relieved by another watcher 768
1142	1142	designated for the same politica l party, political action 769
1143	1143	committee, political committee, or candidate whenever necessary. 770
1144	1144	(f) The supervisor shall furnish to each canvassing board 771
1145	1145	member a list of watchers for whom an absentee vote processing 772
1146	1146	watcher request form has been approved and for whom an absentee 773
1147	1147	vote processing watcher designation form has been received. 774
1148	1148	Designation forms shall be completed by the chair of the county 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 1669 2024
1151	1151
1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1155	1155	hb1669-00
1156	1156	Page 32 of 112
1157	1157	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158	1158
1159	1159
1160	1160
1161	1161	executive committee of each political party, chair of a 776
1162	1162	political action committee, chair of a political commi ttee, or 777
1163	1163	candidate. 778
1164	1164	(4) No candidate or sheriff, deputy sheriff, police 779
1165	1165	officer, or other law enforcement officer may be designated as 780
1166	1166	an absentee vote processing watcher. 781
1167	1167	(5) An absentee vote processing watcher may enter into and 782
1168	1168	watch operations in a ny work area listed in subsection (1) if 783
1169	1169	the number of watchers in the work area does not exceed the 784
1170	1170	number recommended by the department or the voting center 785
1171	1171	capacity safety recommendations by the local fire department. 786
1172	1172	(6) The supervisor of elections s hall provide to each 787
1173	1173	designated absentee vote processing watcher an identification 788
1174	1174	badge that identifies the watcher by first name and last 789
1175	1175	initial. Each watcher must wear his or her identification badge 790
1176	1176	while performing his or her duties. The designated a bsentee vote 791
1177	1177	processing watcher badge must be surrendered to the supervisor 792
1178	1178	at the end of the day. 793
1179	1179	Section 5. Section 101.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to 794
1180	1180	read: 795
1181	1181	101.21 Official ballots; number; printing; payment. — 796
1182	1182	(1) Where applicable, The supervisor of elections shall 797
1183	1183	determine the actual number of ballots and voter certificate 798
1184	1184	envelopes to be printed for each election. The ballots and voter 799
1185	1185	certificate envelopes must be sourced from different vendors and 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1669 2024
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1192	1192	hb1669-00
1193	1193	Page 33 of 112
1194	1194	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195	1195
1196	1196
1197	1197
1198	1198	the voter certificate envelopes must hav e serial numbers or 801
1199	1199	other markings that may be used to detect unauthorized printing 802
1200	1200	or submission of illegal envelopes . 803
1201	1201	(2) The supervisor of elections must complete a ballot, 804
1202	1202	envelope, and seal accounting report before an election may be 805
1203	1203	certified. The ballot, envelope, and seal accounting report must 806
1204	1204	reconcile the number of ballots printed by an official printer 807
1205	1205	or in-house with the number of ballots: 808
1206	1206	(a) Distributed to absentee voters. 809
1207	1207	(b) Distributed to in -person voting sites. 810
1208	1208	(c) Completed and received from absentee voters. 811
1209	1209	(d) Completed and received from in -person voting sites. 812
1210	1210	(e) Distributed but not returned from absentee voters. 813
1211	1211	(f) Distributed and returned unvoted from in -person voting 814
1212	1212	sites. 815
1213	1213	(g) Not distributed. 816
1214	1214	(h) Spoiled. 817
1215	1215	(i) Used for duplication. 818
1216	1216	(j) Placed in storage at the end of the election as voted 819
1217	1217	or unvoted. 820
1218	1218	(3) Review and approval of the ballot, envelope, and seal 821
1219	1219	accounting report shall be completed and reconciled by the 822
1220	1220	county canvassing board before the electi on is certified and by 823
1221	1221	a state or county auditing team after the election is certified. 824
1222	1222	Purchase order records of marksense paper, ballots, and 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1669 2024
1225	1225
1226	1226
1227	1227
1228	1228	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1229	1229	hb1669-00
1230	1230	Page 34 of 112
1231	1231	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234
1235	1235	envelopes as well as print -on-demand and facsimile records shall 826
1236	1236	be made available to auditors and the public at no charge. 827
1237	1237	(4) The printing and delivery of ballots and cards of 828
1238	1238	instruction shall, in a municipal election, be paid for by the 829
1239	1239	municipality, and in all other elections by the county. 830
1240	1240	Section 6. Section 101.545, Florida Statutes, is amended 831
1241	1241	to read: 832
1242	1242	101.545 Retention and destruction of certain election 833
1243	1243	materials.—All ballots, envelopes, seals, video recordings, 834
1244	1244	forms, and other election materials shall be retained in the 835
1245	1245	custody of the supervisor of elections for a minimum of 22 836
1246	1246	months after an election and in accordance with the schedule 837
1247	1247	approved by the Division of Library and Information Services of 838
1248	1248	the Department of State. All unused ballots, envelopes, seals, 839
1249	1249	forms, and other election materials may, with the approval of 840
1250	1250	the Department of State, be destroyed by the supervisor after 841
1251	1251	the election for which such ballots, envelopes, seals, forms, or 842
1252	1252	other election materials were to be used after a 843
1253	1253	postcertification audit is completed and published on the 844
1254	1254	supervisor's website . 845
1255	1255	Section 7. Section 101.5614, Florida Statutes, is amended 846
1256	1256	to read: 847
1257	1257	101.5614 Canvass of returns. — 848
1258	1258	(1) As soon as the polls are closed, the election board 849
1259	1259	shall secure the voting devices against further voting. The 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1669 2024
1262	1262
1263	1263
1264	1264
1265	1265	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1267	1267	Page 35 of 112
1268	1268	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269	1269
1270	1270
1271	1271
1272	1272	election board shall thereafter, in the presence of members of 851
1273	1273	the public desiring to witness the proceedings, verify the 852
1274	1274	number of voted ballots, unused ballots, provisional b allots, 853
1275	1275	and spoiled ballots to ascertain whether such number corresponds 854
1276	1276	with the number of ballots issued by the supervisor. If there is 855
1277	1277	a difference, this fact shall be reported in writing to the 856
1278	1278	county canvassing board with the reasons therefor if known . The 857
1279	1279	total number of voted ballots shall be entered on the forms 858
1280	1280	provided. The number of ballots processed through the tabulator 859
1281	1281	on election day, the number of blank ballots processed through 860
1282	1282	the tabulator, and the number of persons checking in at the 861
1283	1283	precinct shall also be entered on the forms provided. Precinct 862
1284	1284	poll workers shall then conduct a hand -count audit of a randomly 863
1285	1285	chosen race. Ballots must be placed in stacks according to the 864
1286	1286	candidate chosen on the ballots for that race. Those ballots 865
1287	1287	shall be hand-counted by two poll workers from different 866
1288	1288	political parties and candidate choice verified in the process. 867
1289	1289	Totals shall be noted and compared to the machine count. Any 868
1290	1290	discrepancies must be flagged and reported to the supervisor of 869
1291	1291	elections office and noted on the poll tape posted for the 870
1292	1292	public. The supervisor must verifying any discrepancies over the 871
1293	1293	next 3 days with interested members of the public and a member 872
1294	1294	of each party present. If the supervisor determines that there 873
1295	1295	is a discrepancy, all b allots for the entire precinct must be 874
1296	1296	hand counted using the original paper ballots and those results, 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1669 2024
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
1302	1302	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1303	1303	hb1669-00
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1305	1305	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306	1306
1307	1307
1308	1308
1309	1309	once verified, shall override the machine counts. The number of 876
1310	1310	tickets printed to receive ballots must be compared with the 877
1311	1311	number of persons noted by the electronic precinct register 878
1312	1312	system as checked in and any discrepancies must be resolved or 879
1313	1313	documented. The proceedings of the election board at the 880
1314	1314	precinct after the polls have closed shall be open to the 881
1315	1315	public; however, no person except a member of the election board 882
1316	1316	shall touch any ballot or ballot container or interfere with or 883
1317	1317	obstruct the orderly count of the ballots. 884
1318	1318	(2) The results of ballots tabulated at precinct locations 885
1319	1319	may be provided to the county canvassing board transmitted to 886
1320	1320	the main computer system for the purpose of reconciliation of 887
1321	1321	chain of custody and compilation of complete returns. The 888
1322	1322	tabulator may not use networking communication hardware. 889
1323	1323	However, the supervisor may collect preliminary precinct 890
1324	1324	election results data from t abulators using a portable storage 891
1325	1325	device secure from manipulation, such as a write once, read 892
1326	1326	many, or "WORM," device, and insert the data into a secure 893
1327	1327	computer dedicated to transmitting such data to the elections 894
1328	1328	office. The security guidelines for tran smission of returns 895
1329	1329	shall conform to rules adopted by the Department of State 896
1330	1330	pursuant to s. 101.015. 897
1331	1331	(3) For each ballot or ballot image on which write -in 898
1332	1332	votes have been cast, the canvassing board shall compare the 899
1333	1333	write-in votes with the votes cast on the ballot; if the total 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1669 2024
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338
1339	1339	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1340	1340	hb1669-00
1341	1341	Page 37 of 112
1342	1342	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343	1343
1344	1344
1345	1345
1346	1346	number of votes for any office exceeds the number allowed by 901
1347	1347	law, such votes shall not be counted. All valid votes shall be 902
1348	1348	tallied by the canvassing board. 903
1349	1349	(4)(a) If any vote-by-mail ballot is physically damaged so 904
1350	1350	that it cannot properly be counted by the voting system's 905
1351	1351	automatic tabulating equipment, a true duplicate copy shall be 906
1352	1352	made of the damaged ballot in an open and accessible room in the 907
1353	1353	presence of watchers from at least two different political 908
1354	1354	parties witnesses and substituted for the damaged ballot. 909
1355	1355	Likewise, a duplicate ballot shall be made of a vote -by-mail 910
1356	1356	ballot containing an overvoted race if there is a clear 911
1357	1357	indication on the ballot that the voter has made a definite 912
1358	1358	choice in the overvoted race or ballot measu re. A duplicate 913
1359	1359	shall include all valid votes as determined by the canvassing 914
1360	1360	board based on rules adopted by the division pursuant to s. 915
1361	1361	102.166(8) s. 102.166(4). A duplicate may be made of a ballot 916
1362	1362	containing an undervoted race or ballot measure if there is a 917
1363	1363	clear indication on the ballot that the voter has made a 918
1364	1364	definite choice in the undervoted race or ballot measure. A 919
1365	1365	duplicate may not include a vote if the voter's intent in such 920
1366	1366	race or on such measure is not clear. Upon request, candidates, 921
1367	1367	political party officials, and political committee officials, 922
1368	1368	and authorized designees thereof, and public watchers a 923
1369	1369	physically present candidate, a political party official, a 924
1370	1370	political committee official, or an authorized designee thereof, 925
1371	1371
1372	1372	HB 1669 2024
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
1376	1376	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1377	1377	hb1669-00
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1379	1379	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1380	1380
1381	1381
1382	1382
1383	1383	must be allowed to observe the duplication of ballots upon 926
1384	1384	signing an affidavit affirming his or her acknowledgment that 927
1385	1385	disclosure of election results discerned from observing the 928
1386	1386	ballot duplication process while the election is ongoing is a 929
1387	1387	felony, as provided under subsection (8). The observer must be 930
1388	1388	allowed to observe the duplication of ballots in such a way that 931
1389	1389	the observer is able to see the markings on each ballot and the 932
1390	1390	duplication taking place. All duplicate ballots must be clearly 933
1391	1391	labeled "duplicate," bear a serial number which shall be 934
1392	1392	recorded on the defective ballot, and be counted in lieu of the 935
1393	1393	defective ballot. The duplication of ballots must happen in the 936
1394	1394	presence of at least one canvassing board member and watchers 937
1395	1395	from at least two diff erent political parties . After a ballot 938
1396	1396	has been duplicated, the defective ballot shall be placed in an 939
1397	1397	envelope provided for that purpose, and the duplicate ballot 940
1398	1398	shall be tallied with the other ballots for that precinct. If 941
1399	1399	any observer makes a reasonab le objection to a duplicate of a 942
1400	1400	ballot, the ballot must be presented to the canvassing board for 943
1401	1401	a determination of the validity of the duplicate. The canvassing 944
1402	1402	board must document the serial number of the ballot in the 945
1403	1403	canvassing board's minutes. The ca nvassing board must decide 946
1404	1404	whether the duplication is valid. If the duplicate ballot is 947
1405	1405	determined to be valid, the duplicate ballot must be counted. If 948
1406	1406	the duplicate ballot is determined to be invalid, the duplicate 949
1407	1407	ballot must be rejected and a proper du plicate ballot must be 950
1408	1408
1409	1409	HB 1669 2024
1410	1410
1411	1411
1412	1412
1413	1413	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1414	1414	hb1669-00
1415	1415	Page 39 of 112
1416	1416	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1417	1417
1418	1418
1419	1419
1420	1420	made and counted in lieu of the original. 951
1421	1421	(b) A true duplicate copy shall be made of each federal 952
1422	1422	write-in absentee ballot in the presence of watchers witnesses 953
1423	1423	and substituted for the federal write -in absentee ballot. A 954
1424	1424	duplicate may be made by hand duplication observed by watchers 955
1425	1425	of both major political parties. The duplicate ballot must 956
1426	1426	include all valid votes as determined by the canvassing board 957
1427	1427	based on rules adopted by the division pursuant to s. 102.166(8) 958
1428	1428	s. 102.166(4). All duplicate ballots shall be clearly labeled 959
1429	1429	"duplicate," bear a serial number that shall be recorded on the 960
1430	1430	federal write-in absentee ballot, and be counted in lieu of the 961
1431	1431	federal write-in absentee ballot. After a ballot has been 962
1432	1432	duplicated, the federal w rite-in absentee ballot shall be placed 963
1433	1433	in an envelope provided for that purpose, and the duplicate 964
1434	1434	ballot shall be tallied with other ballots for that precinct. 965
1435	1435	(5) If there is no clear indication on the ballot that the 966
1436	1436	voter has made a definite choice for an office or ballot 967
1437	1437	measure, the elector's ballot shall not be counted for that 968
1438	1438	office or measure, but the ballot shall not be invalidated as to 969
1439	1439	those names or measures which are properly marked. 970
1440	1440	(6) Vote-by-mail ballots may be counted by the voting 971
1441	1441	system's automatic tabulating equipment if they have been marked 972
1442	1442	in a manner which will enable them to be properly counted by 973
1443	1443	such equipment. 974
1444	1444	(7) The return printed by the voting system's automatic 975
1445	1445
1446	1446	HB 1669 2024
1447	1447
1448	1448
1449	1449
1450	1450	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1453	1453	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1454	1454
1455	1455
1456	1456
1457	1457	tabulating equipment, to which has been added the return of 976
1458	1458	write-in, vote-by-mail, and manually counted votes and votes 977
1459	1459	from provisional ballots, shall constitute the official return 978
1460	1460	of the election upon certification by the canvassing board. Upon 979
1461	1461	completion of the count, the returns shall be open to the 980
1462	1462	public. A copy of the returns may be posted at the central 981
1463	1463	counting place or at the office of the supervisor of elections 982
1464	1464	in lieu of the posting of returns at individual precincts. 983
1465	1465	(8) Any supervisor of elections, deputy supervisor of 984
1466	1466	elections, canvassing bo ard member, election board member, 985
1467	1467	election employee, or other person authorized to observe, 986
1468	1468	review, or inspect ballot materials or observe canvassing who 987
1469	1469	releases any information about votes cast for or against any 988
1470	1470	candidate or ballot measure or any resul ts of any election 989
1471	1471	before the closing of the polls in that county on election day 990
1472	1472	commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in 991
1473	1473	s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 992
1474	1474	(9) The county canvassing board shall officially convene 993
1475	1475	in the presence of candidate, designees of political action 994
1476	1476	committees, political committees, or political parties, and the 995
1477	1477	public to discuss all election results and the necessary next 996
1478	1478	steps required to officially determine election results, 997
1479	1479	including recounts, runof fs, hand counts, audits or any other 998
1480	1480	activities necessary before certification of the election. 999
1481	1481	Section 8. Subsection (4) is added to section 101.595, 1000
1482	1482
1483	1483	HB 1669 2024
1484	1484
1485	1485
1486	1486
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1490	1490	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1491	1491
1492	1492
1493	1493
1494	1494	Florida Statutes, to read: 1001
1495	1495	101.595 Analysis and reports of voting problems. — 1002
1496	1496	(4) A postcertificat ion procedural audit must be conducted 1003
1497	1497	after each election. The department shall adopt rules for the 1004
1498	1498	conduct of such audit, which must include the audit of each of 1005
1499	1499	the following: 1006
1500	1500	(a) Chain of custody forms and procedures. 1007
1501	1501	(b) Signature verification on vote-by-mail ballot 1008
1502	1502	requests, voter certificate envelopes, and curing. 1009
1503	1503	(c) Handling of public inspector protests and challenges. 1010
1504	1504	(d) Canvassing board duties. 1011
1505	1505	(e) Physical security. 1012
1506	1506	(f) All blank ballots, under -voted ballots, overvoted 1013
1507	1507	ballots, provisional ballots, and all other ballots that were 1014
1508	1508	separated from the main bin by the tabulator or that require 1015
1509	1509	separate adjudication or handling for any reason. Such ballots 1016
1510	1510	must be hand-counted to ensure the number of ballots equals the 1017
1511	1511	number shown on the reports. 1018
1512	1512	(g) Seal accounting and management. 1019
1513	1513	Section 9. Section 101.6103, Florida Statutes, is amended 1020
1514	1514	to read: 1021
1515	1515	101.6103 Mail ballot election procedure. — 1022
1516	1516	(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the 1023
1517	1517	supervisor of elections shall mail all official ballots with a 1024
1518	1518	voter certificate envelope, an identification secrecy envelope, 1025
1519	1519
1520	1520	HB 1669 2024
1521	1521
1522	1522
1523	1523
1524	1524	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1525	1525	hb1669-00
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1527	1527	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1528	1528
1529	1529
1530	1530
1531	1531	a return mailing envelope, and instructions sufficient to 1026
1532	1532	describe the voting process to each elector entitled to vote in 1027
1533	1533	the election within the timeframes specifi ed in s. 101.62(3). 1028
1534	1534	All such ballots must be mailed by first -class mail. If the 1029
1535	1535	supervisor of election pays return ballot postage, two United 1030
1536	1536	States Postal Service permit billing accounts must be used, with 1031
1537	1537	one account used solely for outbound ballots and the other 1032
1538	1538	account solely used for returned ballots. Ballots must be 1033
1539	1539	addressed to each elector at the address appearing in the 1034
1540	1540	registration records and placed in an envelope which is 1035
1541	1541	prominently marked " Return Service Requested Do Not Forward." 1036
1542	1542	(2) Upon receipt of the ballot the elector shall read the 1037
1543	1543	instructions, mark the ballot, place only the completed ballot 1038
1544	1544	in the voter certificate it in the secrecy envelope, sign his or 1039
1545	1545	her name as it appears in the voter registration system on the 1040
1546	1546	signature line on the return mailing envelope supplied with the 1041
1547	1547	ballot, and comply with the instructions provided with the 1042
1548	1548	ballot. The elector shall place a copy of the required 1043
1549	1549	identification into the identification envelope and place the 1044
1550	1550	voter certificate envelope and th e identification envelope into 1045
1551	1551	the return mailing envelope. Alternatively, the voter may place 1046
1552	1552	the voter certificate envelope in a voter provided envelope and 1047
1553	1553	send it by registered mail at the voter's expense to the 1048
1554	1554	supervisor of election's office or the a ddress listed on the 1049
1555	1555	return envelope. The elector shall mail, deliver, or have 1050
1556	1556
1557	1557	HB 1669 2024
1558	1558
1559	1559
1560	1560
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1564	1564	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1565	1565
1566	1566
1567	1567
1568	1568	delivered the marked ballot so that it reaches the supervisor of 1051
1569	1569	elections no later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. The 1052
1570	1570	ballot must be returned in the sealed and signed voter 1053
1571	1571	certificate return mailing envelope. 1054
1572	1572	(3) The voter certificate return mailing envelope shall 1055
1573	1573	contain a statement in substantially the following form: 1056
1574	1574	1057
1575	1575	VOTER'S CERTIFICATE 1058
1576	1576	I, ...(Print Name)..., do solemnly swear (or 1059
1577	1577	affirm) that I am a qualified voter in this election 1060
1578	1578	and that I have not and will not vote more than one 1061
1579	1579	ballot in this election. 1062
1580	1580	I understand that failure to sign this 1063
1581	1581	certificate and give my residence address will 1064
1582	1582	invalidate my ballot. 1065
1583	1583	...(Date)... 1066
1584	1584	...(Printed Name) 1067
1585	1585	...(Signature)... 1068
1586	1586	...(Residence Address)... 1069
1587	1587	...(E-mail Address[Optional])... 1070
1588	1588	...(Home Telephone Number [Optional])... 1071
1589	1589	...(Cellular Telephone Number [Optional])... 1072
1590	1590	1073
1591	1591	(4) If the ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not 1074
1592	1592	received by the elector, the elector may obtain a replacement 1075
1593	1593
1594	1594	HB 1669 2024
1595	1595
1596	1596
1597	1597
1598	1598	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1601	1601	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1602	1602
1603	1603
1604	1604
1605	1605	ballot from the supervisor of elections as provided in this 1076
1606	1606	subsection. An elector seeking a replacement ballot shall 1077
1607	1607	provide tier 1 identification and sign a sworn statement that 1078
1608	1608	the ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received and 1079
1609	1609	present such statement to the supervisor of elections before 1080
1610	1610	prior to 7 p.m. on the day of the election. The supervisor of 1081
1611	1611	elections shall verify the signature on the sworn statement and 1082
1612	1612	keep a record of each replacement ballot provided under this 1083
1613	1613	subsection. 1084
1614	1614	(5) A ballot shall be counted only if: 1085
1615	1615	(a) It is returned in the voter certificate return mailing 1086
1616	1616	envelope bearing the elector's signature ; 1087
1617	1617	(b) A copy of a photo identification is placed into the 1088
1618	1618	identification envelope and, if the voter is require d to provide 1089
1619	1619	additional documentation under s. 101.68, such documentation is 1090
1620	1620	placed into the identification envelope; 1091
1621	1621	(c) The voter certificate envelope and the identification 1092
1622	1622	envelope are placed into the return mailing envelope or a voter -1093
1623	1623	provided envelope that is sent by registered mail to the 1094
1624	1624	supervisor of election's office or the address listed on the 1095
1625	1625	return mailing envelope; 1096
1626	1626	(d)(b) The elector's signature has been verified as 1097
1627	1627	provided in this subsection; and 1098
1628	1628	(e)(c) It is received by the supervisor of elections not 1099
1629	1629	later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. 1100
1630	1630
1631	1631	HB 1669 2024
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1633	1633
1634	1634
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1638	1638	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1639	1639
1640	1640
1641	1641
1642	1642	1101
1643	1643	The supervisor of elections shall verify the signature of each 1102
1644	1644	elector on the voter certificate return mailing envelope with 1103
1645	1645	the signature on the elector's r egistration records. Such 1104
1646	1646	verification may commence at any time before prior to the 1105
1647	1647	canvass of votes. The supervisor of elections shall safely keep 1106
1648	1648	the ballot stored in a secure area only accessible by electronic 1107
1649	1649	badge and under video surveillance unopened in his or her office 1108
1650	1650	until the county canvassing board canvasses the vote. If the 1109
1651	1651	supervisor of elections determines that an elector to whom a 1110
1652	1652	replacement ballot has been issued under subsection (4) has 1111
1653	1653	voted more than once, the canvassing board shall det ermine which 1112
1654	1654	ballot, if any, is to be counted. 1113
1655	1655	(6) The canvassing board may begin the canvassing of mail 1114
1656	1656	ballots as provided by s. 101.68(2)(a). The criminal penalty 1115
1657	1657	specified in that paragraph for the release of results before 7 1116
1658	1658	p.m. on election day is also applicable to canvassing conducted 1117
1659	1659	under this act. The canvassing of mail ballots shall be open for 1118
1660	1660	public observation. 1119
1661	1661	(7) With respect to absent electors overseas entitled to 1120
1662	1662	vote in the election, the supervisor of elections shall mail an 1121
1663	1663	official ballot with a voter certificate secrecy envelope, a 1122
1664	1664	return mailing envelope, and instructions sufficient to describe 1123
1665	1665	the voting process to each such elector on a date sufficient to 1124
1666	1666	allow such elector time to vote in the election and to have his 1125
1667	1667
1668	1668	HB 1669 2024
1669	1669
1670	1670
1671	1671
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1675	1675	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1676	1676
1677	1677
1678	1678
1679	1679	or her marked ballot reach the supervisor by 7 p.m. on the day 1126
1680	1680	of the election. 1127
1681	1681	(8) A ballot that otherwise satisfies the requirements of 1128
1682	1682	subsection (5) shall be counted even if the elector dies after 1129
1683	1683	mailing the ballot but before election day, as long as, before 1130
1684	1684	prior to the death of the voter, the ballot was: 1131
1685	1685	(a) Postmarked by the United States Postal Service; 1132
1686	1686	(b) Date-stamped with a verifiable tracking number by 1133
1687	1687	common carrier; or 1134
1688	1688	(c) Already in the possession of the supervisor of 1135
1689	1689	elections. 1136
1690	1690	Section 10. Section 101.6104, Florida Statutes, is amended 1137
1691	1691	to read: 1138
1692	1692	101.6104 Challenge of votes. —If any elector present for 1139
1693	1693	the canvass of votes believes that any ballot is illegal due to 1140
1694	1694	any defect apparent on the voter's certificate, the elector may, 1141
1695	1695	at any time before the ballot is removed from the envelope, file 1142
1696	1696	with the canvassing board a protest against the canvass of such 1143
1697	1697	ballot, specifying the reason he or she believes the ballot to 1144
1698	1698	be illegal. No challenge based upon any defect on the voter's 1145
1699	1699	certificate shall be accepted after the ballot has been removed 1146
1700	1700	from the return mailing envelope. When a challenge of a voter 1147
1701	1701	certificate envelope or cure affidavit signature is received, 1148
1702	1702	the ballot shall be segregated; left uncounted and, if 1149
1703	1703	applicable, unopened; logg ed; and treated as provisional to be 1150
1704	1704
1705	1705	HB 1669 2024
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1707	1707
1708	1708
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1712	1712	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1713	1713
1714	1714
1715	1715
1716	1716	reviewed before the end of canvassing. A challenger shall be 1151
1717	1717	given an identification number for the challenged ballot or 1152
1718	1718	envelope, as applicable. This identification number and the 1153
1719	1719	final disposition of the ballot must b e logged for use in 1154
1720	1720	procedural audits. 1155
1721	1721	Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), 1156
1722	1722	subsection (2), and paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 1157
1723	1723	101.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1158
1724	1724	101.62 Request for vote -by-mail ballots.— 1159
1725	1725	(1) REQUEST.— 1160
1726	1726	(a) The supervisor shall accept a request for a vote -by-1161
1727	1727	mail ballot only from a voter or, if directly instructed by the 1162
1728	1728	voter, a member of the voter's immediate family or the voter's 1163
1729	1729	legal guardian. A request may be made in person, in writing, by 1164
1730	1730	telephone, or through the supervisor's website. The department 1165
1731	1731	shall prescribe by rule by October 1, 2023, a uniform statewide 1166
1732	1732	application to make a written request for a vote -by-mail ballot 1167
1733	1733	which includes fields for all information required in this 1168
1734	1734	subsection. An allowed reason for requesting a vote -by-mail 1169
1735	1735	ballot must be provided and attested to. Allowable reasons 1170
1736	1736	include that the voter is confined to his or her home or 1171
1737	1737	otherwise physically unable to vote in person, which the voter 1172
1738	1738	must attest to by presenting an affidavit provided by a medical 1173
1739	1739	doctor; that the voter will be out of state during the entire 1174
1740	1740	voting period, which the voter must attest to by providing proof 1175
1741	1741
1742	1742	HB 1669 2024
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1744	1744
1745	1745
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1749	1749	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1750	1750
1751	1751
1752	1752
1753	1753	of his or her out-of-state location; that the voter is 80 years 1176
1754	1754	of age or older; or that the voter is enrolled in an educational 1177
1755	1755	institution outside of the county in which he or she is 1178
1756	1756	registered, which the voter must attest to by providing proof of 1179
1757	1757	enrollment. One request is deemed sufficient to receive a vote -1180
1758	1758	by-mail ballot for all elec tions through the end of the calendar 1181
1759	1759	year of the next regularly scheduled general election, unless 1182
1760	1760	the voter or the voter's designee indicates at the time the 1183
1761	1761	request is made the elections within such period for which the 1184
1762	1762	voter desires to receive a vote -by-mail ballot. The supervisor 1185
1763	1763	must cancel a request for a vote -by-mail ballot when any first -1186
1764	1764	class return-service requested mail or nonforwardable mail sent 1187
1765	1765	by the supervisor to the voter is returned as undeliverable. If 1188
1766	1766	the voter requests a vote -by-mail ballot thereafter, the voter 1189
1767	1767	must provide or confirm his or her current residential address 1190
1768	1768	in a written request that includes the voter's signature and the 1191
1769	1769	voter's Florida driver license number, the voter's Florida 1192
1770	1770	identification card number, or the last f our digits of the 1193
1771	1771	voter's social security number . 1194
1772	1772	(b) If the voter's request meets the criteria under 1195
1773	1773	paragraph (a), the supervisor may accept a request for a vote -1196
1774	1774	by-mail ballot to be mailed to a voter's address on file in the 1197
1775	1775	Florida Voter Registration System from the voter, or, if 1198
1776	1776	directly instructed by the voter, a member of the voter's 1199
1777	1777	immediate family or the voter's legal guardian. If an in -person 1200
1778	1778
1779	1779	HB 1669 2024
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1781	1781
1782	1782
1783	1783	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1786	1786	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1787	1787
1788	1788
1789	1789
1790	1790	or a telephonic request is made, the voter must provide the 1201
1791	1791	voter's Florida driver license number, the voter's Florida 1202
1792	1792	identification card number, or the last four digits of the 1203
1793	1793	voter's social security number, whichever may be verified in the 1204
1794	1794	supervisor's records. If the ballot is requested to be mailed to 1205
1795	1795	an address other than the voter's address on file i n the Florida 1206
1796	1796	Voter Registration System, the request must be made in writing. 1207
1797	1797	A written request must be signed by the voter and include the 1208
1798	1798	voter's Florida driver license number, the voter's Florida 1209
1799	1799	identification card number, or the last four digits of th e 1210
1800	1800	voter's social security number. However, an absent uniformed 1211
1801	1801	services voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote -by-mail 1212
1802	1802	ballot is not required to submit a signed, written request for a 1213
1803	1803	vote-by-mail ballot that is being mailed to an address other 1214
1804	1804	than the voter's address on file in the Florida Voter 1215
1805	1805	Registration System. The person making the request must 1216
1806	1806	disclose: 1217
1807	1807	1. The name of the voter for whom the ballot is requested. 1218
1808	1808	2. The voter's address. 1219
1809	1809	3. The voter's date of birth. 1220
1810	1810	4. The voter's Florida driver license number, the voter's 1221
1811	1811	Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of 1222
1812	1812	the voter's social security number, whichever may be verified in 1223
1813	1813	the supervisor's records. If the voter's registration record 1224
1814	1814	does not already include the vot er's Florida driver license 1225
1815	1815
1816	1816	HB 1669 2024
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1818	1818
1819	1819
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1823	1823	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1824	1824
1825	1825
1826	1826
1827	1827	number or Florida identification card number or the last four 1226
1828	1828	digits of the voter's social security number, the number 1227
1829	1829	provided must be recorded in the voter's registration record. 1228
1830	1830	5. The requester's name. 1229
1831	1831	6. The requester's address. 1230
1832	1832	7. The requester's driver license number, the requester's 1231
1833	1833	identification card number, or the last four digits of the 1232
1834	1834	requester's social security number, if available. 1233
1835	1835	8. The requester's relationship to the voter. 1234
1836	1836	9. The requester's signatur e (written requests only). 1235
1837	1837	(2) ACCESS TO VOTE-BY-MAIL REQUEST INFORMATION. —For each 1236
1838	1838	request for a vote-by-mail ballot received, the supervisor shall 1237
1839	1839	record the following information: the date the request was made; 1238
1840	1840	the identity of the voter's designee mak ing the request, if any; 1239
1841	1841	the Florida driver license number, Florida identification card 1240
1842	1842	number, or last four digits of the social security number of the 1241
1843	1843	voter provided with a written request; the date the vote -by-mail 1242
1844	1844	ballot was delivered to the voter or t he voter's designee or the 1243
1845	1845	date the vote-by-mail ballot was delivered to the post office or 1244
1846	1846	other carrier; the address to which the ballot was mailed or the 1245
1847	1847	identity of the voter's designee to whom the ballot was 1246
1848	1848	delivered; the date the ballot was received by the supervisor; 1247
1849	1849	the absence of the voter's signature on the voter's certificate, 1248
1850	1850	if applicable; whether the voter's certificate contains a 1249
1851	1851	signature that does not match the voter's signature in the 1250
1852	1852
1853	1853	HB 1669 2024
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1855	1855
1856	1856
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1860	1860	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1861	1861
1862	1862
1863	1863
1864	1864	registration books or precinct register; whether the voter was 1251
1865	1865	notified of the signature mismatch and sent instructions to 1252
1866	1866	complete a cure affidavit; and such other information he or she 1253
1867	1867	may deem necessary. This information must be provided in 1254
1868	1868	electronic format as provided by division rule. The information 1255
1869	1869	must be updated and made available no later than 8 a.m. of each 1256
1870	1870	day, including weekends, beginning 60 days before the primary 1257
1871	1871	until 15 days after the general election and shall be 1258
1872	1872	contemporaneously provided to the division. This information is 1259
1873	1873	confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and shall be made 1260
1874	1874	available to or reproduced only for the voter requesting the 1261
1875	1875	ballot, a canvassing board, an election official, a political 1262
1876	1876	party or official thereof, a candidate who has filed 1263
1877	1877	qualification papers and is oppose d in an upcoming election, and 1264
1878	1878	registered political committees for political purposes only. 1265
1879	1879	(3) DELIVERY OF VOTE -BY-MAIL BALLOTS.— 1266
1880	1880	(d) Upon a request for a vote -by-mail ballot, the 1267
1881	1881	supervisor shall provide a vote -by-mail ballot to each voter by 1268
1882	1882	whom a request for that ballot has been made, by one of the 1269
1883	1883	following means: 1270
1884	1884	1. By nonforwardable, return -if-undeliverable mail to the 1271
1885	1885	voter's current mailing address on file with the supervisor or 1272
1886	1886	any other address the voter specifies in the request. The 1273
1887	1887	envelopes must be prominently marked " Return Service Requested 1274
1888	1888	Do Not Forward." 1275
1889	1889
1890	1890	HB 1669 2024
1891	1891
1892	1892
1893	1893
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1897	1897	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1898	1898
1899	1899
1900	1900
1901	1901	2. By forwardable mail, e -mail, or facsimile machine 1276
1902	1902	transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas 1277
1903	1903	voters. The absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter 1278
1904	1904	may designate in the vote -by-mail ballot request the preferred 1279
1905	1905	method of transmission. If the voter does not designate the 1280
1906	1906	method of transmission, the vote -by-mail ballot must be mailed. 1281
1907	1907	3. By personal delivery to the voter after vote -by-mail 1282
1908	1908	ballots have been mailed and up to 7 p.m. on election day upon 1283
1909	1909	presentation of the identification required in s. 101.043. 1284
1910	1910	4. By delivery to the voter's designee after vote -by-mail 1285
1911	1911	ballots have been mailed and up to 7 p.m. on election day. Any 1286
1912	1912	voter may designate in w riting a person to pick up the ballot 1287
1913	1913	for the voter; however, the person designated may not pick up 1288
1914	1914	more than two vote-by-mail ballots per election, other than the 1289
1915	1915	designee's own ballot, except that additional ballots may be 1290
1916	1916	picked up for members of the de signee's immediate family. The 1291
1917	1917	designee shall provide to the supervisor the written 1292
1918	1918	authorization by the voter and a picture identification of the 1293
1919	1919	designee and must complete an affidavit. The designee shall 1294
1920	1920	state in the affidavit that the designee is autho rized by the 1295
1921	1921	voter to pick up that ballot and shall indicate if the voter is 1296
1922	1922	a member of the designee's immediate family and, if so, the 1297
1923	1923	relationship. The department shall prescribe the form of the 1298
1924	1924	affidavit. If the supervisor is satisfied that the designe e is 1299
1925	1925	authorized to pick up the ballot and that the signature of the 1300
1926	1926
1927	1927	HB 1669 2024
1928	1928
1929	1929
1930	1930
1931	1931	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1932	1932	hb1669-00
1933	1933	Page 53 of 112
1934	1934	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1935	1935
1936	1936
1937	1937
1938	1938	voter on the written authorization matches the signature of the 1301
1939	1939	voter on file, the supervisor must give the ballot to that 1302
1940	1940	designee for delivery to the voter. 1303
1941	1941	5. Except as provided in s. 101.655, the supervisor may 1304
1942	1942	not deliver a vote-by-mail ballot to a voter or a voter's 1305
1943	1943	designee pursuant to subparagraph 3. or subparagraph 4., 1306
1944	1944	respectively, during the mandatory early voting period and up to 1307
1945	1945	7 p.m. on election day, unless there is an emer gency, to the 1308
1946	1946	extent that the voter will be unable to go to a designated early 1309
1947	1947	voting site in his or her county or to his or her assigned 1310
1948	1948	polling place on election day. If a vote -by-mail ballot is 1311
1949	1949	delivered, the voter or his or her designee must execute an 1312
1950	1950	affidavit affirming to the facts which allow for delivery of the 1313
1951	1951	vote-by-mail ballot. The department shall adopt a rule providing 1314
1952	1952	for the form of the affidavit. 1315
1953	1953	Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) and 1316
1954	1954	subsection (5) of section 101.64, Florida Statutes, are amended 1317
1955	1955	to read: 1318
1956	1956	101.64 Delivery of vote -by-mail ballots; envelopes; form. — 1319
1957	1957	(1)(a) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote -by-mail 1320
1958	1958	ballot instructions on completing and returning a ballot, a 1321
1959	1959	voter certificate envelope, an identification envelope, and a 1322
1960	1960	return two envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the absent 1323
1961	1961	elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a mailing 1324
1962	1962	envelope, into which the absent elector shall then place the 1325
1963	1963
1964	1964	HB 1669 2024
1965	1965
1966	1966
1967	1967
1968	1968	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1969	1969	hb1669-00
1970	1970	Page 54 of 112
1971	1971	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1972	1972
1973	1973
1974	1974
1975	1975	voter certificate secrecy envelope, which shall be addressed to 1326
1976	1976	the supervisor and also bear on the back side a certificate in 1327
1977	1977	substantially the following form: 1328
1978	1978	1329
1979	1979	Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before 1330
1980	1980	Marking Ballot and Completing Voter's Certificate. 1331
1981	1981	VOTER'S CERTIFICATE 1332
1982	1982	I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a 1333
1983	1983	qualified and registered voter of .... County, 1334
1984	1984	Florida, and that I have not and will not vote more 1335
1985	1985	than one ballot in this election. I understand that if 1336
1986	1986	I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in connection 1337
1987	1987	with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 1338
1988	1988	than once in an election, I can be convicted of a 1339
1989	1989	felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 1340
1990	1990	and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years. I also understand 1341
1991	1991	that failure to sign this certificate will invalidate 1342
1992	1992	my ballot. 1343
1993	1993	...(Date)... 1344
1994	1994	...(Voter's Printed Name)... 1345
1995	1995	...(Voter's Signature)... 1346
1996	1996	...(E-Mail Address) [Optional]... 1347
1997	1997	...(Home Telephone Number) [Optional] ... 1348
1998	1998	...(Mobile Telephone Number) [Optional]... 1349
1999	1999	1350
2000	2000
2001	2001	HB 1669 2024
2002	2002
2003	2003
2004	2004
2005	2005	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2006	2006	hb1669-00
2007	2007	Page 55 of 112
2008	2008	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2009	2009
2010	2010
2011	2011
2012	2012	(c) A mailing envelope or voter certificate secrecy 1351
2013	2013	envelope may not bear any indication of the political 1352
2014	2014	affiliation of an absent elector. 1353
2015	2015	(5) The voter certificate secrecy envelope must include, 1354
2016	2016	in bold font, substantially the following message: 1355
2017	2017	1356
2018	2018	IN ORDER FOR YOUR VOTE -BY-MAIL BALLOT TO COUNT, YOUR 1357
2019	2019	SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MUST RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT BY 7 1358
2020	2020	P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. IF YOU WAIT TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT, 1359
2021	2021	YOUR VOTE MIGHT NOT COUNT. TO PREVENT THIS FROM 1360
2022	2022	OCCURRING, PLEASE MAIL OR TURN IN YOUR BALLOT AS SOON 1361
2023	2023	AS POSSIBLE. 1362
2024	2024	1363
2025	2025	Section 13. Section 101.65, Florida Stat utes, is amended 1364
2026	2026	to read: 1365
2027	2027	101.65 Instructions to absent electors. —The supervisor 1366
2028	2028	shall enclose with each vote -by-mail ballot separate printed 1367
2029	2029	instructions in substantially the following form; however, where 1368
2030	2030	the instructions appear in capitalized text, th e text of the 1369
2031	2031	printed instructions must be in bold font: 1370
2032	2032	1371
2033	2033	READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY 1372
2034	2034	BEFORE MARKING BALLOT. 1373
2035	2035	1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that your 1374
2036	2036	vote-by-mail ballot will be counted, it should be 1375
2037	2037
2038	2038	HB 1669 2024
2039	2039
2040	2040
2041	2041
2042	2042	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2043	2043	hb1669-00
2044	2044	Page 56 of 112
2045	2045	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2046	2046
2047	2047
2048	2048
2049	2049	completed and returned as soon as possibl e so that it 1376
2050	2050	can reach the supervisor of elections of the county in 1377
2051	2051	which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on 1378
2052	2052	the day of the election. However, if you are an 1379
2053	2053	overseas voter casting a ballot in a presidential 1380
2054	2054	preference primary or general elect ion, your vote-by-1381
2055	2055	mail ballot must be postmarked or dated no later than 1382
2056	2056	the date of the election and received by the 1383
2057	2057	supervisor of elections of the county in which you are 1384
2058	2058	registered to vote no later than 10 days after the 1385
2059	2059	date of the election. Note that t he later you return 1386
2060	2060	your ballot, the less time you will have to cure any 1387
2061	2061	signature deficiencies, which is authorized until 5 1388
2062	2062	p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. 1389
2063	2063	2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on 1390
2064	2064	the ballot. You must mark your own ballot unless you 1391
2065	2065	are unable to do so because of blindness, disability, 1392
2066	2066	or inability to read or write. 1393
2067	2067	3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue 1394
2068	2068	choices for a race as indicated on the ballot. If you 1395
2069	2069	are allowed to "Vote for One" candidate and you vote 1396
2070	2070	for more than one candidate, your vote in that race 1397
2071	2071	will not be counted. 1398
2072	2072	4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed 1399
2073	2073	voter certificate secrecy envelope. Completely fill 1400
2074	2074
2075	2075	HB 1669 2024
2076	2076
2077	2077
2078	2078
2079	2079	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2080	2080	hb1669-00
2081	2081	Page 57 of 112
2082	2082	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2083	2083
2084	2084
2085	2085
2086	2086	out the voter's certificate on the back of the voter 1401
2087	2087	certificate envelope. 1402
2088	2088	5. Insert a copy of your photo identification in 1403
2089	2089	the identification envelope. The following photo 1404
2090	2090	identifications are acceptable if you are not a first -1405
2091	2091	time voter: Florida driver license; Florida 1406
2092	2092	identification card issued by the Department of 1407
2093	2093	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States 1408
2094	2094	passport; debit or credit card; military 1409
2095	2095	identification; student identification; public 1410
2096	2096	assistance identification; veteran health 1411
2097	2097	identification card issued by the United States 1412
2098	2098	Department of Veterans Affairs; a license to carry a 1413
2099	2099	concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 1414
2100	2100	790.06; or an employee identification card issued by 1415
2101	2101	any branch, department, agency, or entity of the 1416
2102	2102	Federal Government, the state, a county, or a 1417
2103	2103	municipality. 1418
2104	2104	6.5. Insert the voter certificate envelope and 1419
2105	2105	the identification secrecy envelope into the enclosed 1420
2106	2106	mailing envelope which is addressed to the supervisor. 1421
2107	2107	7.6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely 1422
2108	2108	fill out the Voter's Certificate on the back of the 1423
2109	2109	mailing envelope. 1424
2110	2110	8.7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for your vote -by-1425
2111	2111
2112	2112	HB 1669 2024
2113	2113
2114	2114
2115	2115
2116	2116	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2117	2117	hb1669-00
2118	2118	Page 58 of 112
2119	2119	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2120	2120
2121	2121
2122	2122
2123	2123	mail ballot to be counted, you must sign your name on 1426
2124	2124	the line above (Voter's Signature). If your signature 1427
2125	2125	does not appear on the designated signature line 1428
2126	2126	adjacent to the voter certificate oath on the voter's 1429
2127	2127	certificate, you are required to complete a cure 1430
2128	2128	affidavit to validate your signature. A vote-by-mail 1431
2129	2129	ballot will be considered illegal and not be counted 1432
2130	2130	if the signature on the voter's certificate does not 1433
2131	2131	match the signature on record. The signature on f ile 1434
2132	2132	at the time the supervisor of elections in the county 1435
2133	2133	in which your precinct is located receives your vote -1436
2134	2134	by-mail ballot is the signature that will be used to 1437
2135	2135	verify your signature on the voter's certificate. If 1438
2136	2136	you need to update your signature for t his election, 1439
2137	2137	send your signature update on a voter registration 1440
2138	2138	application to your supervisor of elections so that it 1441
2139	2139	is received before your vote -by-mail ballot is 1442
2140	2140	received. 1443
2141	2141	9.8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas 1444
2142	2142	voter, you must include the date you signed the 1445
2143	2143	Voter's Certificate on the line above (Date) or your 1446
2144	2144	ballot may not be counted. 1447
2145	2145	10.9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the 1448
2146	2146	completed mailing envelope. Be sure there is 1449
2147	2147	sufficient postage if mailed. THE COMPLETED MAILING 1450
2148	2148
2149	2149	HB 1669 2024
2150	2150
2151	2151
2152	2152
2153	2153	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2154	2154	hb1669-00
2155	2155	Page 59 of 112
2156	2156	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2157	2157
2158	2158
2159	2159
2160	2160	ENVELOPE CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE OFFICE OF THE 1451
2161	2161	SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOUR 1452
2162	2162	PRECINCT IS LOCATED OR DROPPED OFF AT AN AUTHORIZED 1453
2163	2163	SECURE BALLOT INTAKE STATION, AVAILABLE AT EACH EARLY 1454
2164	2164	VOTING LOCATION. 1455
2165	2165	11.10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under 1456
2166	2166	Florida law to accept any gift, payment, or gratuity 1457
2167	2167	in exchange for your vote for a candidate. It is also 1458
2168	2168	a felony under Florida law to vote in an election 1459
2169	2169	using a false identity or false address, or under any 1460
2170	2170	other circumstances making your ballot false or 1461
2171	2171	fraudulent. 1462
2172	2172	1463
2173	2173	Section 14. Section 101.655, Florida Statutes, is amended 1464
2174	2174	to read: 1465
2175	2175	101.655 Supervised voting by absent electors in certain 1466
2176	2176	facilities.— 1467
2177	2177	(1) The supervisor of elections of a county shall provide 1468
2178	2178	bipartisan supervised voting for absent electo rs residing in any 1469
2179	2179	assisted living facility, as defined in s. 429.02, or nursing 1470
2180	2180	home facility, as defined in s. 400.021, within that county at 1471
2181	2181	the request of an elector living in the facility or the power of 1472
2182	2182	attorney for an elector living in the facility of any 1473
2183	2183	administrator of such a facility . Such request for supervised 1474
2184	2184	voting in the facility shall be made by submitting a written 1475
2185	2185
2186	2186	HB 1669 2024
2187	2187
2188	2188
2189	2189
2190	2190	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2191	2191	hb1669-00
2192	2192	Page 60 of 112
2193	2193	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2194	2194
2195	2195
2196	2196
2197	2197	request to the supervisor of elections no later than 28 days 1476
2198	2198	before prior to the election for which that request is 1477
2199	2199	submitted. The request shall specify the name and address of the 1478
2200	2200	facility and the name of the electors who wish to vote by mail 1479
2201	2201	in that election. If the request contains the names of fewer 1480
2202	2202	than five voters, the supervisor of elections is not required to 1481
2203	2203	provide supervised voting. 1482
2204	2204	(2) The supervisor of elections may , in the absence of a 1483
2205	2205	request from the administrator of a facility, provide for 1484
2206	2206	supervised voting in the facility for those persons who have 1485
2207	2207	requested vote-by-mail ballots and voting assistance . The 1486
2208	2208	supervisor of elections shall notify the administrator of the 1487
2209	2209	facility that supervised voting will occur. 1488
2210	2210	(3) The supervisor of elections shall, in cooperation with 1489
2211	2211	the administrator of the facility, select a date and time when 1490
2212	2212	the supervised voting will occu r. 1491
2213	2213	(4) The supervisor of elections shall designate supervised 1492
2214	2214	voting teams to provide the services prescribed by this section. 1493
2215	2215	Each supervised voting team shall include at least two persons. 1494
2216	2216	Each supervised voting team must include representatives of mor e 1495
2217	2217	than one political party; however, in any primary election to 1496
2218	2218	nominate party nominees in which only one party has candidates 1497
2219	2219	appearing on the ballot, all supervised voting team members may 1498
2220	2220	be of that party. No candidate may provide supervised voting 1499
2221	2221	services. 1500
2222	2222
2223	2223	HB 1669 2024
2224	2224
2225	2225
2226	2226
2227	2227	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2228	2228	hb1669-00
2229	2229	Page 61 of 112
2230	2230	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2231	2231
2232	2232
2233	2233
2234	2234	(5) Ballots shall be placed in a sealed envelope for 1501
2235	2235	transport to the facility to be delivered to respective absent 1502
2236	2236	electors. Chain of custody forms shall include fields for the 1503
2237	2237	name of the facility, the date, the time, the printed names and 1504
2238	2238	signatures of each person on the supervised voting team assigned 1505
2239	2239	to the facility, the number of ballots delivered to the 1506
2240	2240	facility, the envelope seal number, and the printed names and 1507
2241	2241	signatures of each person on the supervised voting team who 1508
2242	2242	opens the envelope. 1509
2243	2243	(6) The seal on the envelope shall be maintained until the 1510
2244	2244	supervised voting team is in the facility. 1511
2245	2245	(7)(5) The supervised voting team shall deliver the 1512
2246	2246	ballots to the respective absent electors, and each member of 1513
2247	2247	the team shall jointly supervise th e voting of the ballots. If 1514
2248	2248	any elector requests assistance in voting, the oath prescribed 1515
2249	2249	in s. 101.051 shall be completed and the elector may receive the 1516
2250	2250	assistance of two members of the supervised voting team or some 1517
2251	2251	other person of the elector's choice to assist the elector in 1518
2252	2252	casting the elector's ballot. 1519
2253	2253	(8)(6) Before providing assistance, the supervised voting 1520
2254	2254	team shall disclose to the elector that the ballot may be 1521
2255	2255	retained by the elector to vote at a later time and that the 1522
2256	2256	elector has the right to seek assistance in voting from some 1523
2257	2257	other person of the elector's choice without the presence of the 1524
2258	2258	supervised voting team. 1525
2259	2259
2260	2260	HB 1669 2024
2261	2261
2262	2262
2263	2263
2264	2264	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2265	2265	hb1669-00
2266	2266	Page 62 of 112
2267	2267	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2268	2268
2269	2269
2270	2270
2271	2271	(9) Before providing assistance to the elector, the 1526
2272	2272	supervised voting team must verify the identity of the elector 1527
2273	2273	by photo identification and attestation by a facility 1528
2274	2274	administrator. 1529
2275	2275	(10)(7) If any elector declines to vote a ballot or is 1530
2276	2276	unable to vote a ballot, the supervised voting team shall mark 1531
2277	2277	the ballot "refused to vote" or "unable to vote." 1532
2278	2278	(11)(8) After the ballots have been voted or marked in 1533
2279	2279	accordance with the provisions of this section, the supervised 1534
2280	2280	voting team shall place the completed and remaining blank 1535
2281	2281	ballots in a sealable envelope and deliver the ballots to the 1536
2282	2282	supervisor of elections, who shall retain t hem pursuant to s. 1537
2283	2283	101.67. 1538
2284	2284	(12) The chain of custody forms for transported and 1539
2285	2285	completed ballots by supervised voting team for supervised 1540
2286	2286	voting by absent electors in certain facilities must include 1541
2287	2287	fields for the printed names and signatures of two supe rvised 1542
2288	2288	voting team members, the date, the time, the number of absentee 1543
2289	2289	ballots transported to the facility in which the elector lives, 1544
2290	2290	the number of absentee ballots completed and returned to the 1545
2291	2291	supervisor, the number of absentee ballots retained by elect ors 1546
2292	2292	to be cast at a later date, the voter identifications of 1547
2293	2293	electors who retained ballots, and seal numbers. 1548
2294	2294	(13) The names of electors living in the facility who 1549
2295	2295	complete ballots, the names of electors living in a facility who 1550
2296	2296
2297	2297	HB 1669 2024
2298	2298
2299	2299
2300	2300
2301	2301	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2302	2302	hb1669-00
2303	2303	Page 63 of 112
2304	2304	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2305	2305
2306	2306
2307	2307
2308	2308	refuse to vote, and the n ames of electors living in the facility 1551
2309	2309	who retain ballots to cast at a later date must be logged and 1552
2310	2310	reported to the supervisor of elections by the supervised voting 1553
2311	2311	team. 1554
2312	2312	(14) Cast ballots in sealed envelopes from supervised 1555
2313	2313	voting for absent electors residing in any assisted living 1556
2314	2314	facility or nursing home facility must be returned to the 1557
2315	2315	supervisor of elections for tabulation and retention pursuant to 1558
2316	2316	s. 101.67. 1559
2317	2317	(15) The chain of custody forms for transported and 1560
2318	2318	completed ballots by supervised voti ng team for supervised 1561
2319	2319	voting by absent electors in certain facilities shall include 1562
2320	2320	fields for the name of the facility, the printed names and 1563
2321	2321	signatures of two members of the vote counting center who accept 1564
2322	2322	custody of the cast ballots, the date, the time , the seal 1565
2323	2323	number, checkbox that the seal is intact, and the number of 1566
2324	2324	absentee ballots received by the vote counting center from the 1567
2325	2325	facility. 1568
2326	2326	(16) The county canvassing board shall validate chain of 1569
2327	2327	custody records for ballots received from supervised voting by 1570
2328	2328	absent electors in certain facilities as the ballots are 1571
2329	2329	returned. 1572
2330	2330	Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and 1573
2331	2331	subsections (2) and (4) of section 101.68, Florida Statutes, are 1574
2332	2332	amended to read: 1575
2333	2333
2334	2334	HB 1669 2024
2335	2335
2336	2336
2337	2337
2338	2338	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2341	2341	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2342	2342
2343	2343
2344	2344
2345	2345	101.68 Canvassing of vote -by-mail ballot.— 1576
2346	2346	(1)(a) The supervisor of the county in which where the 1577
2347	2347	absent elector resides shall receive the voted ballot, verify 1578
2348	2348	the certificate signature is a personal and manual signature 1579
2349	2349	that was not created by a rubber stamp or an electronic machine, 1580
2350	2350	verify that the voter certificate envelope and ballot material 1581
2351	2351	are consistent with the quality and serial number sequence 1582
2352	2352	issued, and at which time the supervisor shall compare the 1583
2353	2353	signature of the elector on the voter's certificate with the 1584
2354	2354	signature of the elector in the registration books or the 1585
2355	2355	precinct register to determine whether the elector is duly 1586
2356	2356	registered in the county and must record on the elector's 1587
2357	2357	registration record that the elector has voted. The supervisor 1588
2358	2358	shall also evaluate whether the photo ident ification provided is 1589
2359	2359	consistent with any Department of Highway Safety and Motor 1590
2360	2360	Vehicles photographs of the elector available. During the 1591
2361	2361	signature comparison process, the supervisor may not use any 1592
2362	2362	knowledge of the political affiliation of the elector wh ose 1593
2363	2363	signature is subject to verification. 1594
2364	2364	(2)(a) The county canvassing board may begin the 1595
2365	2365	canvassing of vote-by-mail ballots upon the completion of the 1596
2366	2366	public testing of automatic tabulating equipment pursuant to s. 1597
2367	2367	101.5612(2), but must complete canvassing of all ballots 1598
2368	2368	received at the end of election day begin such canvassing by no 1599
2369	2369	later than the end of the following day noon on the day 1600
2370	2370
2371	2371	HB 1669 2024
2372	2372
2373	2373
2374	2374
2375	2375	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2378	2378	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2379	2379
2380	2380
2381	2381
2382	2382	following the election . However, notwithstanding any such 1601
2383	2383	authorization to begin canvassing or otherwise processing vote-1602
2384	2384	by-mail ballots early, no result shall be released to the state 1603
2385	2385	or to the public until after the closing of the polls in that 1604
2386	2386	county on election day. Any supervisor, deputy supervisor, 1605
2387	2387	canvassing board member, election board member, or election 1606
2388	2388	employee who releases the results of a canvassing or processing 1607
2389	2389	of vote-by-mail ballots before prior to the closing of the polls 1608
2390	2390	in that county on election day commits a felony of the third 1609
2391	2391	degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 1610
2392	2392	775.084. 1611
2393	2393	(b) To ensure that all vote -by-mail ballots to be counted 1612
2394	2394	by the canvassing board are accounted for, the canvassing board 1613
2395	2395	shall compare the number of ballots in its possession with the 1614
2396	2396	number of requests for ballots received to be counted according 1615
2397	2397	to the ballot chain of custody records and ballot reconciliation 1616
2398	2398	report, the supervisor's ballot accounting report, and the 1617
2399	2399	supervisor's file or list. 1618
2400	2400	(c)1. The canvassing board must, if the supervisor has not 1619
2401	2401	already done so, compare the signature of the elector on the 1620
2402	2402	voter's certificate or on the vote -by-mail ballot cure affidavit 1621
2403	2403	as provided in subsection (4) with the signature of the elector 1622
2404	2404	in the registration books or the precinct register to see that 1623
2405	2405	the elector is duly registered in the county and to determine 1624
2406	2406	the legality of that vote -by-mail ballot. A vote-by-mail ballot 1625
2407	2407
2408	2408	HB 1669 2024
2409	2409
2410	2410
2411	2411
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2415	2415	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2416	2416
2417	2417
2418	2418
2419	2419	may only be counted if: 1626
2420	2420	a. The signature on the voter's certificate or the cure 1627
2421	2421	affidavit matches the elector's signature in the registration 1628
2422	2422	books or precinct register; however, in the case of a cure 1629
2423	2423	affidavit, the supporting identification listed in subsection 1630
2424	2424	(4) must also confirm the identity of the elector; or 1631
2425	2425	b. The cure affidavit contains a signature that does not 1632
2426	2426	match the elector's signature in the registration books or 1633
2427	2427	precinct register, but the elector has submitted a current and 1634
2428	2428	valid Tier 1 identific ation pursuant to subsection (4) which 1635
2429	2429	confirms the identity of the elector. Tier 1 and Tier 2 1636
2430	2430	identification is considered ballot material for purposes of s. 1637
2431	2431	101.572 and must be presented to any candidates, political party 1638
2432	2432	officials, political committee o fficials, and political action 1639
2433	2433	committee officials, or authorized designees thereof, conducting 1640
2434	2434	a cure affidavit review. 1641
2435	2435	1642
2436	2436	For purposes of this subparagraph, any canvassing board finding 1643
2437	2437	that an elector's signatures do not match must be by majority 1644
2438	2438	vote and beyond a reasonable doubt. 1645
2439	2439	2. The ballot of an elector who casts a vote -by-mail 1646
2440	2440	ballot shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before 1647
2441	2441	election day, as long as, before the death of the voter, the 1648
2442	2442	ballot was postmarked by the United States Postal Service, date-1649
2443	2443	stamped with a verifiable tracking number by a common carrier, 1650
2444	2444
2445	2445	HB 1669 2024
2446	2446
2447	2447
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2452	2452	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2453	2453
2454	2454
2455	2455
2456	2456	or already in the possession of the supervisor. 1651
2457	2457	3. A vote-by-mail ballot is not considered illegal if the 1652
2458	2458	signature of the elector does not cross the seal of the mailing 1653
2459	2459	envelope. However, an envelope that appears to have been opened 1654
2460	2460	and resealed or that displays an unauthorized serial number 1655
2461	2461	instead of an authorized serial number is considered illegal. 1656
2462	2462	4. If any elector or candidate present believes that a 1657
2463	2463	vote-by-mail ballot is illegal due to a defect apparent on the 1658
2464	2464	voter's certificate or the cure affidavit, he or she may, at any 1659
2465	2465	time before the ballot is removed from the envelope, file with 1660
2466	2466	the canvassing board a protest against the canvass of that 1661
2467	2467	ballot, specifying the pre cinct, the voter's certificate or the 1662
2468	2468	cure affidavit, and the reason he or she believes the ballot to 1663
2469	2469	be illegal. A challenge based upon a defect in the voter's 1664
2470	2470	certificate or cure affidavit may not be accepted after the 1665
2471	2471	ballot has been removed from the ma iling envelope. A log shall 1666
2472	2472	be kept of all challenges, the voter identification, the 1667
2473	2473	resolution, and the signatures compared. The log, the cure 1668
2474	2474	affidavit with accompanying Tier 1 or Tier 2 identification, if 1669
2475	2475	applicable, the envelope, and the ballot, if rej ected, therein 1670
2476	2476	must be preserved in the manner that official ballots are 1671
2477	2477	preserved as election materials. The log and decisions must be 1672
2478	2478	reviewed as part of a postelection process audit. 1673
2479	2479	5. If the canvassing board determines that a ballot is 1674
2480	2480	illegal, a member of the board must, without opening the 1675
2481	2481
2482	2482	HB 1669 2024
2483	2483
2484	2484
2485	2485
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2489	2489	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2490	2490
2491	2491
2492	2492
2493	2493	envelope, mark across the face of the envelope: "rejected as 1676
2494	2494	illegal." The cure affidavit with accompanying Tier 1 or Tier 2 1677
2495	2495	identification, if applicable, the envelope, and the ballot 1678
2496	2496	therein shall be preserved in the manner that official ballots 1679
2497	2497	are preserved as election materials . 1680
2498	2498	(d) The canvassing board shall record the ballot upon the 1681
2499	2499	proper record, unless the ballot has been previously recorded by 1682
2500	2500	the supervisor. The mailing envelopes shall be opened and the 1683
2501	2501	voter certificate secrecy envelopes shall be mixed so as to make 1684
2502	2502	it impossible to determine which voter certificate secrecy 1685
2503	2503	envelope came out of which signed mailing envelope; however, in 1686
2504	2504	any county in which an electronic or electromechanical voting 1687
2505	2505	system is used, the ballots may be sorted by ballot styles and 1688
2506	2506	the mailing envelopes may be opened and the voter certificate 1689
2507	2507	secrecy envelopes mixed separately for each ballot style. The 1690
2508	2508	votes on vote-by-mail ballots shall be included in the total 1691
2509	2509	vote of the county. 1692
2510	2510	(4)(a) As soon as practicable, the supervisor shall, on 1693
2511	2511	behalf of the county canvassing board, attempt to notify an 1694
2512	2512	elector who has returned a vote -by-mail ballot that does not 1695
2513	2513	include the elector's signature or contains a signature that 1696
2514	2514	does not match the elector's signature in the registration books 1697
2515	2515	or precinct register by: 1698
2516	2516	1. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by e -1699
2517	2517	mail with a direct link to the supervisor's website and 1700
2518	2518
2519	2519	HB 1669 2024
2520	2520
2521	2521
2522	2522
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2526	2526	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2527	2527
2528	2528
2529	2529
2530	2530	directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instruct ions on 1701
2531	2531	the supervisor's website ; 1702
2532	2532	2. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by 1703
2533	2533	text message with a direct link to the supervisor's website and 1704
2534	2534	directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on 1705
2535	2535	the supervisor's website ; or 1706
2536	2536	3. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by 1707
2537	2537	telephone and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and 1708
2538	2538	instructions on the supervisor's website. 1709
2539	2539	1710
2540	2540	In addition to the notification required under subparagraph 1., 1711
2541	2541	subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3., the supervisor must notify 1712
2542	2542	the elector of the signature deficiency by first -class mail and 1713
2543	2543	direct the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the 1714
2544	2544	supervisor's website. Beginning the day before the election, the 1715
2545	2545	supervisor is not required to prov ide notice of the signature 1716
2546	2546	deficiency by first-class mail, but shall continue to provide 1717
2547	2547	notice as required under subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or 1718
2548	2548	subparagraph 3. 1719
2549	2549	(b) The supervisor shall allow such an elector to complete 1720
2550	2550	and submit an affidavit in order to cure the vote -by-mail ballot 1721
2551	2551	until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. 1722
2552	2552	(c) The elector must complete a cure affidavit in 1723
2553	2553	substantially the following form: 1724
2554	2554	1725
2555	2555
2556	2556	HB 1669 2024
2557	2557
2558	2558
2559	2559
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2563	2563	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2564	2564
2565	2565
2566	2566
2567	2567	VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT CURE AFFIDAVIT 1726
2568	2568	I, ...., am a qualified voter in this election 1727
2569	2569	and registered voter of .... County, Florida. I do 1728
2570	2570	solemnly swear or affirm that I requested and returned 1729
2571	2571	the vote-by-mail ballot and that I have not and will 1730
2572	2572	not vote more than one ballot in this election. I 1731
2573	2573	understand that if I commit or attempt any frau d in 1732
2574	2574	connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or 1733
2575	2575	vote more than once in an election, I may be convicted 1734
2576	2576	of a felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 1735
2577	2577	and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my 1736
2578	2578	failure to sign this affidavit me ans that my vote-by-1737
2579	2579	mail ballot will be invalidated. 1738
2580	2580	...(Date)... 1739
2581	2581	...(Voter's Printed Name)... 1740
2582	2582	...(Voter's Signature)... 1741
2583	2583	...(Voter's E-mail Address)[Optional]... 1742
2584	2584	...(Voter's Home Telephone Number)[Optional]... 1743
2585	2585	...(Voter's Cellular Telephone Number)[Optiona l]... 1744
2586	2586	...(Address)... 1745
2587	2587	1746
2588	2588	(d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in 1747
2589	2589	substantially the following form: 1748
2590	2590	1749
2591	2591	READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE 1750
2592	2592
2593	2593	HB 1669 2024
2594	2594
2595	2595
2596	2596
2597	2597	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2598	2598	hb1669-00
2599	2599	Page 71 of 112
2600	2600	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2601	2601
2602	2602
2603	2603
2604	2604	COMPLETING THE AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE 1751
2605	2605	INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. 1752
2606	2606	1. In order to ensure that your vote -by-mail 1753
2607	2607	ballot will be counted, your affidavit should be 1754
2608	2608	completed and returned as soon as possible so that it 1755
2609	2609	can reach the supervisor of elections of the county in 1756
2610	2610	which your precinct is located no later than 5 p.m. on 1757
2611	2611	the 2nd day after the election. 1758
2612	2612	2. You must sign your name on the line above 1759
2613	2613	(Voter's Signature). 1760
2614	2614	3. You must make a copy of one of the following 1761
2615	2615	forms of identification: 1762
2616	2616	a. Tier 1 identification. —Current and valid 1763
2617	2617	identification that includes you r name and photograph: 1764
2618	2618	Florida driver license; Florida identification card 1765
2619	2619	issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 1766
2620	2620	Vehicles; United States passport; debit or credit 1767
2621	2621	card; military identification; student identification; 1768
2622	2622	retirement center ident ification; neighborhood 1769
2623	2623	association identification; public assistance 1770
2624	2624	identification; veteran health identification card 1771
2625	2625	issued by the United States Department of Veterans 1772
2626	2626	Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon 1773
2627	2627	or firearm; or an employee id entification card issued 1774
2628	2628	by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the 1775
2629	2629
2630	2630	HB 1669 2024
2631	2631
2632	2632
2633	2633
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2637	2637	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2638	2638
2639	2639
2640	2640
2641	2641	Federal Government, the state, a county, or a 1776
2642	2642	municipality; or 1777
2643	2643	b. Tier 2 identification. —ONLY IF YOU DO NOT 1778
2644	2644	HAVE A TIER 1 FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification 1779
2645	2645	that shows your name and current residence address: 1780
2646	2646	current utility bill, bank statement, government 1781
2647	2647	check, paycheck, or government document (excluding 1782
2648	2648	voter information card). 1783
2649	2649	4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into 1784
2650	2650	a mailing envelope addressed to the supervis or. Insert 1785
2651	2651	a copy of your identification in the mailing envelope. 1786
2652	2652	Mail (if time permits), deliver, or have delivered the 1787
2653	2653	completed affidavit along with the copy of your 1788
2654	2654	identification to your county supervisor of elections. 1789
2655	2655	Be sure there is sufficient post age if mailed and that 1790
2656	2656	the supervisor's address is correct. Remember, your 1791
2657	2657	information MUST reach your county supervisor of 1792
2658	2658	elections no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after 1793
2659	2659	the election, or your ballot will not count. 1794
2660	2660	5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your 1795
2661	2661	completed affidavit and a copy of your identification 1796
2662	2662	to the supervisor of elections. If e -mailing, please 1797
2663	2663	provide these documents as attachments. 1798
2664	2664	1799
2665	2665	(e) The department and each supervisor shall include the 1800
2666	2666
2667	2667	HB 1669 2024
2668	2668
2669	2669
2670	2670
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2674	2674	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2675	2675
2676	2676
2677	2677
2678	2678	affidavit and instructions on their r espective websites. The 1801
2679	2679	supervisor must include his or her office's mailing address, e -1802
2680	2680	mail address, and fax number on the page containing the 1803
2681	2681	affidavit instructions, and the department's instruction page 1804
2682	2682	must include the office mailing addresses, e -mail addresses, and 1805
2683	2683	fax numbers of all supervisors of elections or provide a 1806
2684	2684	conspicuous link to such addresses. 1807
2685	2685	(f) The supervisor shall attach each affidavit and Tier 1 1808
2686	2686	or Tier 2 identification document received to the appropriate 1809
2687	2687	voter certificate vote-by-mail ballot mailing envelope. 1810
2688	2688	(g) A designee for a candidate, a political committee, a 1811
2689	2689	political action committee, or political party may inspect all 1812
2690	2690	ballot materials in accordance with s. 101.572, including Tier 1 1813
2691	2691	and Tier 2 forms of identification neces sary to accept or reject 1814
2692	2692	a ballot certificate signature match. 1815
2693	2693	(h) A voter signature mismatch on a voter certificate 1816
2694	2694	envelope that is rejected by the county canvassing board must be 1817
2695	2695	cured by the elector before his or her signature may be accepted 1818
2696	2696	and vote counted. The elector shall complete a cure affidavit 1819
2697	2697	and return to the county canvassing board the affidavit and Tier 1820
2698	2698	1 or Tier 2 forms of identification. 1821
2699	2699	(i) The voter certificate envelope, the cure affidavit, 1822
2700	2700	and the Tier 1 or Tier 2 forms of identif ication are considered 1823
2701	2701	ballot materials under s. 101.572. These ballot materials 1824
2702	2702	provide supporting evidence to accept or reject a signature on a 1825
2703	2703
2704	2704	HB 1669 2024
2705	2705
2706	2706
2707	2707
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2711	2711	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2712	2712
2713	2713
2714	2714
2715	2715	certificate and shall be reviewed by the canvassing board and 1826
2716	2716	made available to a designee for a candidate, a political 1827
2717	2717	committee, a political action committee, or a political party. 1828
2718	2718	(j) The supervisor shall provide to the designee for a 1829
2719	2719	candidate, political committee, political action committee, or 1830
2720	2720	political party access to any materials considered ballot 1831
2721	2721	materials under s. 101.572 which are necessary to complete the 1832
2722	2722	task of cure affidavit review. A time shall be arranged each day 1833
2723	2723	and made open to the public for a designee for a candidate, 1834
2724	2724	political committee, political action committee, or political 1835
2725	2725	party to complete a cure affidavit review of unique returned 1836
2726	2726	cure affidavits that have been returned since the previous day 1837
2727	2727	made open to the public. As long as the vote counting center is 1838
2728	2728	open to the public, the supervisor may not limit the time 1839
2729	2729	necessary for a desig nee for a candidate, a political committee, 1840
2730	2730	a political action committee, or a political party to complete a 1841
2731	2731	cure affidavit review of ballot materials. 1842
2732	2732	(k)(g) If a vote-by-mail ballot is validated following the 1843
2733	2733	submission of a cure affidavit, the supervi sor shall make a copy 1844
2734	2734	of the affidavit, affix it to a voter registration application, 1845
2735	2735	and immediately process it as a valid request for a signature 1846
2736	2736	update pursuant to s. 98.077. 1847
2737	2737	(l) A log shall be kept of cure challenges levied by 1848
2738	2738	public inspectors, including the voter name, the voter 1849
2739	2739	identification, the voter precinct, the reason for the cure 1850
2740	2740
2741	2741	HB 1669 2024
2742	2742
2743	2743
2744	2744
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2748	2748	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2749	2749
2750	2750
2751	2751
2752	2752	affidavit, the reason the voter certificate envelope was 1851
2753	2753	initially rejected, the reason for any challenges made to the 1852
2754	2754	cure affidavit signature, Tier 1 and Tier 2 identification, and 1853
2755	2755	the final disposition of the cure affidavit. 1854
2756	2756	1. The log, the cure affidavit, if applicable, the 1855
2757	2757	envelope, and the ballot, if rejected, shall be preserved in t he 1856
2758	2758	manner that official ballots are preserved. The log and 1857
2759	2759	decisions must be reviewed as part of a postelection process 1858
2760	2760	audit and cure reports shall be made available to the public by 1859
2761	2761	precinct. 1860
2762	2762	2. If a designee protests a cure affidavit and the protest 1861
2763	2763	is subsequently rejected by the county canvassing board, the 1862
2764	2764	ballot shall be counted as a cast vote and entered into the 1863
2765	2765	final vote count. The county canvassing board shall record in 1864
2766	2766	the log the reason for the protest, the reason for the protest 1865
2767	2767	rejection, the voter identification, the voter precinct, the 1866
2768	2768	reason the cure affidavit was required, and the voter 1867
2769	2769	certificate envelope that was originally rejected. 1868
2770	2770	3. Daily county canvassing board minutes shall contain 1869
2771	2771	board decisions relating to cure affidavits, including the voter 1870
2772	2772	identification and precinct discussed. 1871
2773	2773	(m)(h) After all election results on the ballot have been 1872
2774	2774	certified, the supervisor shall, on behalf of the county 1873
2775	2775	canvassing board, notify each elector whose ballot has been 1874
2776	2776	rejected as illegal and provide the specific reason the ballot 1875
2777	2777
2778	2778	HB 1669 2024
2779	2779
2780	2780
2781	2781
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2785	2785	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2786	2786
2787	2787
2788	2788
2789	2789	was rejected. The supervisor shall research the elector whose 1876
2790	2790	ballot was rejected as illegal using all available resources to 1877
2791	2791	determine if the elector is still eligible to vote. If the 1878
2792	2792	elector is determined to be eligible to vote In addition, unless 1879
2793	2793	processed as a signature update pursuant to paragraph (k) (g), 1880
2794	2794	the supervisor shall mail a voter registration application to 1881
2795	2795	the elector to be completed indicating the elector's current 1882
2796	2796	signature if the signature on th e voter's certificate or cure 1883
2797	2797	affidavit did not match the elector's signature in the 1884
2798	2798	registration books or precinct register. 1885
2799	2799	(n) Any information not confidential or exempt from s. 1886
2800	2800	119.07(1) must be made available to candidate, political party, 1887
2801	2801	or political committee designees, including information on 1888
2802	2802	electors who are notified of a signature mismatch and provided 1889
2803	2803	instructions to complete a cure affidavit by the supervisor. 1890
2804	2804	Section 16. Section 101.69, Florida Statutes, is amended 1891
2805	2805	to read: 1892
2806	2806	101.69 Voting in person; return of vote -by-mail ballot.— 1893
2807	2807	(1) The provisions of this code shall not be construed to 1894
2808	2808	prohibit any elector from voting in person at the elector's 1895
2809	2809	precinct on the day of an election or at an early voting site, 1896
2810	2810	notwithstanding that the elector has requested a vote -by-mail 1897
2811	2811	ballot for that election. An elector who has returned a voted 1898
2812	2812	vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor, however, is deemed to 1899
2813	2813	have cast his or her ballot and is not entitled to vote another 1900
2814	2814
2815	2815	HB 1669 2024
2816	2816
2817	2817
2818	2818
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2822	2822	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2823	2823
2824	2824
2825	2825
2826	2826	ballot or to have a provisi onal ballot counted by the county 1901
2827	2827	canvassing board. An elector who has received a vote -by-mail 1902
2828	2828	ballot and has not returned the voted ballot to the supervisor, 1903
2829	2829	but desires to vote in person, shall return the ballot, whether 1904
2830	2830	voted or not, to the election boa rd in the elector's precinct or 1905
2831	2831	to an early voting site. The returned ballot voter certificate 1906
2832	2832	envelope containing an uncast ballot shall be marked "canceled" 1907
2833	2833	with a permanent marker. In the presence of the elector and a 1908
2834	2834	second poll worker, the board shall open the voter certificate 1909
2835	2835	envelope and mark "canceled" with a permanent marker across the 1910
2836	2836	ballot and place the ballot shall be marked "canceled" by the 1911
2837	2837	board and placed with other canceled ballots. However, if the 1912
2838	2838	elector does not return the ballot and t he election official: 1913
2839	2839	(a) Confirms that the supervisor has received the 1914
2840	2840	elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the elector shall not be allowed 1915
2841	2841	to vote in person. If the elector maintains that he or she has 1916
2842	2842	not returned the vote -by-mail ballot or remains eligibl e to 1917
2843	2843	vote, the elector shall be provided a provisional ballot as 1918
2844	2844	provided in s. 101.048. 1919
2845	2845	(b) Confirms that the supervisor has not received the 1920
2846	2846	elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the elector shall be allowed to 1921
2847	2847	vote in person as provided in this code. The ele ctor's vote-by-1922
2848	2848	mail ballot, if subsequently received, shall not be counted and 1923
2849	2849	shall remain in the mailing envelope, and the envelope shall be 1924
2850	2850	marked "Rejected as Illegal 2nd Ballot." If it is determined 1925
2851	2851
2852	2852	HB 1669 2024
2853	2853
2854	2854
2855	2855
2856	2856	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2857	2857	hb1669-00
2858	2858	Page 78 of 112
2859	2859	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2860	2860
2861	2861
2862	2862
2863	2863	that the signature on the voter certificate does not match the 1926
2864	2864	voter's signature, the vote -by-mail ballot and voter certificate 1927
2865	2865	envelope shall be submitted to the Office of Election Crimes and 1928
2866	2866	Security for investigation. 1929
2867	2867	(c) Cannot determine whether the supervisor has received 1930
2868	2868	the elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the elector may vote a 1931
2869	2869	provisional ballot as provided in s. 101.048. 1932
2870	2870	(2)(a) The supervisor shall allow an elector who has 1933
2871	2871	received a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted 1934
2872	2872	vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor by placing the return mail 1935
2873	2873	envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a secure ballot 1936
2874	2874	intake station. Secure ballot intake stations shall be placed at 1937
2875	2875	the main office of the supervisor, at each permanent branch 1938
2876	2876	office of the supervisor which meets the criteria set forth in 1939
2877	2877	s. 101.657(1)(a) for branch offices used for early voting and 1940
2878	2878	which is open for at least the minimum number of hours 1941
2879	2879	prescribed by s. 98.015(4), and inside at each early voting 1942
2880	2880	site. Secure ballot intake stations may also be placed at any 1943
2881	2881	other site that would otherwise qualify as an early voting site 1944
2882	2882	under s. 101.657(1). Secure ballot intake stations must be 1945
2883	2883	geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county 1946
2884	2884	with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is 1947
2885	2885	practicable. Except for secure ballot intake stations at an 1948
2886	2886	office of the supervisor, A secure ballot intake station may 1949
2887	2887	only be used during the county's early voting hours of operation 1950
2888	2888
2889	2889	HB 1669 2024
2890	2890
2891	2891
2892	2892
2893	2893	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2894	2894	hb1669-00
2895	2895	Page 79 of 112
2896	2896	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2897	2897
2898	2898
2899	2899
2900	2900	if located inside an early voting site or inside an office of 1951
2901	2901	the supervisor and must be monitored in person by an employee of 1952
2902	2902	the supervisor's office. A secure ballot intake station at an 1953
2903	2903	office of the supervisor must be continuously monitored in 1954
2904	2904	person by an employee of the supervisor's office when the secure 1955
2905	2905	ballot intake station is accessible for depo sit of ballots. 1956
2906	2906	(b) A supervisor shall designate each secure ballot intake 1957
2907	2907	station location at least 30 days before an election. The 1958
2908	2908	supervisor shall provide the address of each secure ballot 1959
2909	2909	intake station location to the division at least 30 days befor e 1960
2910	2910	an election. After a secure ballot intake station location has 1961
2911	2911	been designated, it may not be moved or changed except as 1962
2912	2912	approved by the division to correct a violation of this 1963
2913	2913	subsection. 1964
2914	2914	(c)1. On each day of early voting, all secure ballot 1965
2915	2915	intake stations must be inspected to verify no ballots are 1966
2916	2916	present at the start of early voting hours and must be emptied 1967
2917	2917	at the end of early voting hours . and All ballots retrieved from 1968
2918	2918	the secure ballot intake stations must be returned to the 1969
2919	2919	supervisor's office using the chain of custody standards 1970
2920	2920	required under s. 101.015 . 1971
2921	2921	2. For secure ballot intake stations located at an office 1972
2922	2922	of the supervisor, all ballots must be retrieved before the 1973
2923	2923	secure ballot intake station is no longer monitored by an 1974
2924	2924	employee of the supervisor. 1975
2925	2925
2926	2926	HB 1669 2024
2927	2927
2928	2928
2929	2929
2930	2930	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2931	2931	hb1669-00
2932	2932	Page 80 of 112
2933	2933	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2934	2934
2935	2935
2936	2936
2937	2937	3. Employees of the supervisor must comply with procedures 1976
2938	2938	for the chain of custody of ballots as required by s. 1977
2939	2939	101.015(4). 1978
2940	2940	(3) If any secure ballot intake station is left accessible 1979
2941	2941	for ballot receipt other than as authorized by this sec tion or a 1980
2942	2942	secure intake station is deployed which does not meet department 1981
2943	2943	standards, the supervisor is subject to a civil penalty of 1982
2944	2944	$25,000. The division is authorized to enforce this provision. 1983
2945	2945	Section 17. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 101.6921 , 1984
2946	2946	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1985
2947	2947	101.6921 Delivery of special vote -by-mail ballot to 1986
2948	2948	certain first-time voters.— 1987
2949	2949	(2) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote -by-mail 1988
2950	2950	ballot three envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the 1989
2951	2951	absent elector will enclose his or her marked ballot; an 1990
2952	2952	envelope containing the Voter's Certificate ; an identification 1991
2953	2953	envelope, into which the absent elector shall place the secrecy 1992
2954	2954	envelope; and a mailing envelope, which shall be addressed to 1993
2955	2955	the supervisor and into wh ich the absent elector will place the 1994
2956	2956	envelope containing the Voter's Certificate and the 1995
2957	2957	identification envelope containing a copy of the required 1996
2958	2958	identification. 1997
2959	2959	(3) The Voter's Certificate shall be in substantially the 1998
2960	2960	following form: 1999
2961	2961	2000
2962	2962
2963	2963	HB 1669 2024
2964	2964
2965	2965
2966	2966
2967	2967	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2968	2968	hb1669-00
2969	2969	Page 81 of 112
2970	2970	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2971	2971
2972	2972
2973	2973
2974	2974	Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before 2001
2975	2975	Marking Ballot and Completing Voter's Certificate. 2002
2976	2976	VOTER'S CERTIFICATE 2003
2977	2977	I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a 2004
2978	2978	qualified and registered voter of .... County, 2005
2979	2979	Florida, and that I have not and will not vote more 2006
2980	2980	than one ballot in this election. I understand that if 2007
2981	2981	I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in connection 2008
2982	2982	with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 2009
2983	2983	than once in an election, I can be convicted of a 2010
2984	2984	felony of the third degree and fined up to $5 ,000 2011
2985	2985	and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years. I also understand 2012
2986	2986	that failure to sign this certificate will invalidate 2013
2987	2987	my ballot. I understand that unless I meet one of the 2014
2988	2988	exemptions below, I must provide a copy of a current 2015
2989	2989	and valid identification as provide d in the 2016
2990	2990	instruction sheet to the supervisor of elections in 2017
2991	2991	order for my ballot to count. 2018
2992	2992	I further certify that I am exempt from the 2019
2993	2993	requirements to furnish a copy of a current and valid 2020
2994	2994	identification with my ballot because of one or more 2021
2995	2995	of the following (check all that apply): 2022
2996	2996	☐ I am 65 years of age or older. 2023
2997	2997	☐ I have a permanent or temporary physical 2024
2998	2998	disability and have included a copy of a doctor's note 2025
2999	2999
3000	3000	HB 1669 2024
3001	3001
3002	3002
3003	3003
3004	3004	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3005	3005	hb1669-00
3006	3006	Page 82 of 112
3007	3007	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3008	3008
3009	3009
3010	3010
3011	3011	or social security disability document . 2026
3012	3012	☐ I am a member of a uniformed service on active 2027
3013	3013	duty who, by reason of such active duty, will be 2028
3014	3014	absent from the county on election day and have 2029
3015	3015	included a copy of my current military identification . 2030
3016	3016	☐ I am a member of the Merchant Marine who, by 2031
3017	3017	reason of service in the Merchant Marine, will be 2032
3018	3018	absent from the county on election day and have 2033
3019	3019	included a copy of my current Merchant Marine 2034
3020	3020	identification. 2035
3021	3021	☐ I am the spouse or dependent of a member of the 2036
3022	3022	uniformed service or Merchant Marine who, by reason of 2037
3023	3023	the active duty or service of the member, will be 2038
3024	3024	absent from the county on election day and have 2039
3025	3025	included a copy of my uniformed services dependent 2040
3026	3026	identification. 2041
3027	3027	☐ I am currently residing outside the United 2042
3028	3028	States and have included a copy of one of the 2043
3029	3029	following that show my name and my former Florida 2044
3030	3030	address and the address at which I reside outside the 2045
3031	3031	United States: 2046
3032	3032	1. Utility bill. 2047
3033	3033	2. Bank statement. 2048
3034	3034	3. Government issued check. 2049
3035	3035	4 Paycheck. 2050
3036	3036
3037	3037	HB 1669 2024
3038	3038
3039	3039
3040	3040
3041	3041	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3042	3042	hb1669-00
3043	3043	Page 83 of 112
3044	3044	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3045	3045
3046	3046
3047	3047
3048	3048	5. Other government document, excluding a voter 2051
3049	3049	identification card. 2052
3050	3050	...(Date)... 2053
3051	3051	...(Voter's Printed Name)... 2054
3052	3052	...Voter's Signature... 2055
3053	3053	...(Voter's E-mail Address)[Optional]... 2056
3054	3054	...(Voter's Home Telephone Number)[Optional]... 2057
3055	3055	...(Voter's Cellular Telephone Number)[Optional]... 2058
3056	3056	2059
3057	3057	Section 18. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida 2060
3058	3058	Statutes, is amended to read: 2061
3059	3059	101.6923 Special vote -by-mail ballot instructions for 2062
3060	3060	certain first-time voters.— 2063
3061	3061	(2) A voter covered by this section must be provided with 2064
3062	3062	printed instructions with his or her vote -by-mail ballot in 2065
3063	3063	substantially the following form: 2066
3064	3064	2067
3065	3065	READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR 2068
3066	3066	BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE 2069
3067	3067	YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. 2070
3068	3068	1. In order to ensure that your vote -by-mail 2071
3069	3069	ballot will be counted, it should be completed and 2072
3070	3070	returned as soon as possible so that it can reach the 2073
3071	3071	supervisor of elections of the county in which your 2074
3072	3072	precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the date 2075
3073	3073
3074	3074	HB 1669 2024
3075	3075
3076	3076
3077	3077
3078	3078	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3079	3079	hb1669-00
3080	3080	Page 84 of 112
3081	3081	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3082	3082
3083	3083
3084	3084
3085	3085	of the election. However, if you are an overseas voter 2076
3086	3086	casting a ballot in a presidential preference primary 2077
3087	3087	or general election, your vote -by-mail ballot must be 2078
3088	3088	postmarked or dated no later than the date of the 2079
3089	3089	election and received by the supervisor of elections 2080
3090	3090	of the county in which you are registered to vote no 2081
3091	3091	later than 10 days after the date of the election. 2082
3092	3092	Note that the later you return your ballot, the less 2083
3093	3093	time you will have to cure signature deficiencies, 2084
3094	3094	which is authorized until 5 p.m. local time on the 2nd 2085
3095	3095	day after the election. 2086
3096	3096	2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on 2087
3097	3097	the ballot. You must mark your own ballot unless you 2088
3098	3098	are unable to do so because of blindness, disability, 2089
3099	3099	or inability to read or write. 2090
3100	3100	3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue 2091
3101	3101	choices for a race as indicated on the ballot. If you 2092
3102	3102	are allowed to "Vote for One" candidate and you vote 2093
3103	3103	for more than one, your vote in that race will not be 2094
3104	3104	counted. 2095
3105	3105	4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed 2096
3106	3106	secrecy envelope and seal the envelope. 2097
3107	3107	5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed 2098
3108	3108	envelope bearing the Voter's Certificate. Seal the 2099
3109	3109	envelope and completely fill out the Voter's 2100
3110	3110
3111	3111	HB 1669 2024
3112	3112
3113	3113
3114	3114
3115	3115	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3116	3116	hb1669-00
3117	3117	Page 85 of 112
3118	3118	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3119	3119
3120	3120
3121	3121
3122	3122	Certificate on the back of the envelope. 2101
3123	3123	a. You must sign your name on the line above 2102
3124	3124	(Voter's Signature). 2103
3125	3125	b. If you are an overseas voter, you must 2104
3126	3126	include the date you signed the Voter's Certificate on 2105
3127	3127	the line above (Date) or your ballot may not be 2106
3128	3128	counted. 2107
3129	3129	c. A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered 2108
3130	3130	illegal and will not be counted i f the signature on 2109
3131	3131	the Voter's Certificate does not match the signature 2110
3132	3132	on record. The signature on file at the start of the 2111
3133	3133	canvass of the vote-by-mail ballots is the signature 2112
3134	3134	that will be used to verify your signature on the 2113
3135	3135	Voter's Certificate. If you need to update your 2114
3136	3136	signature for this election, send your signature 2115
3137	3137	update on a voter registration application to your 2116
3138	3138	supervisor of elections so that it is received before 2117
3139	3139	your vote-by-mail ballot is received. 2118
3140	3140	5.a. If you have registered to vote withou t a 2119
3141	3141	driver license or Florida identification card and have 2120
3142	3142	not previously provided the one of the following 2121
3143	3143	identification documents to an election official 6. 2122
3144	3144	Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7. , you 2123
3145	3145	must make a copy of one of the following f orms of 2124
3146	3146	identification: 2125
3147	3147
3148	3148	HB 1669 2024
3149	3149
3150	3150
3151	3151
3152	3152	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3153	3153	hb1669-00
3154	3154	Page 86 of 112
3155	3155	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3156	3156
3157	3157
3158	3158
3159	3159	(I) A United States passport; or 2126
3160	3160	(II)(A) A United States birth certificate, 2127
3161	3161	United States naturalization papers, a consular report 2128
3162	3162	of birth abroad provided by the United States 2129
3163	3163	Department of State, or a social security card; and 2130
3164	3164	(B) An acceptable, current photo identification 2131
3165	3165	which must include your name and photograph. 2132
3166	3166	Acceptable photo identification includes a a. 2133
3167	3167	identification which must include your name and 2134
3168	3168	photograph: United States passport; debit or credit 2135
3169	3169	card; military identification; student identification; 2136
3170	3170	retirement center identification; neighborhood 2137
3171	3171	association identification; public assistance 2138
3172	3172	identification; a veteran health identification card 2139
3173	3173	issued by the United States Department of Veterans 2140
3174	3174	Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon 2141
3175	3175	or firearm; or an employee identification card issued 2142
3176	3176	by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the 2143
3177	3177	Federal Government, the state, a county, or a 2144
3178	3178	municipality.; or 2145
3179	3179	b. If you have registered to vote without a 2146
3180	3180	driver license or Florida identification card you must 2147
3181	3181	also make a copy of one of the following documents 2148
3182	3182	dated within the last 2 months that contains the name 2149
3183	3183	and residence address listed on your voter 2150
3184	3184
3185	3185	HB 1669 2024
3186	3186
3187	3187
3188	3188
3189	3189	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3190	3190	hb1669-00
3191	3191	Page 87 of 112
3192	3192	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3193	3193
3194	3194
3195	3195
3196	3196	registration application. Acceptable identification 2151
3197	3197	that which shows your name and current residence 2152
3198	3198	address includes a: current utility bill, bank 2153
3199	3199	statement, government check, paycheck, or government 2154
3200	3200	document (excluding voter information card). 2155
3201	3201	c. If you have registered to vote without a 2156
3202	3202	driver license or Florida identification card and meet 2157
3203	3203	the requirements of Item 6., you may provide the 2158
3204	3204	following as a proof of prior Florida residence: 2159
3205	3205	(I) Documents listed in Item 5.b. that are not 2160
3206	3206	current plus a current equivalent document listing 2161
3207	3207	your non-United States residence. 2162
3208	3208	(II) A consular report of birth abroad provided 2163
3209	3209	by the United States Department of State and proof 2164
3210	3210	that your parents previously resided in the State of 2165
3211	3211	Florida. 2166
3212	3212	d. Documents provided under Item 5. may be 2167
3213	3213	submitted using the same methods allowed under s. 2168
3214	3214	101.68. 2169
3215	3215	6.7. The identification requirements of Item 2170
3216	3216	5.6. do not apply if you meet one of the following 2171
3217	3217	requirements: 2172
3218	3218	a. You are 65 years of age or older as 2173
3219	3219	documented by a copy of a birth certificate proving 2174
3220	3220	your age. 2175
3221	3221
3222	3222	HB 1669 2024
3223	3223
3224	3224
3225	3225
3226	3226	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3227	3227	hb1669-00
3228	3228	Page 88 of 112
3229	3229	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3230	3230
3231	3231
3232	3232
3233	3233	b. You have a temporary or permanent physical 2176
3234	3234	disability as documented by a copy of a doctor's 2177
3235	3235	affidavit stating your disability status or social 2178
3236	3236	security disability doc ument provided to a voter 2179
3237	3237	registration official . 2180
3238	3238	c. You are a member of a uniformed service on 2181
3239	3239	active duty as documented by a current military 2182
3240	3240	identification provided to a voter registration 2183
3241	3241	official who, by reason of such active duty, will be 2184
3242	3242	absent from the county on election day. 2185
3243	3243	d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine as 2186
3244	3244	documented by a current Merchant Marine identification 2187
3245	3245	who, by reason of service in the Merchant Marine, will 2188
3246	3246	be absent from the county on election day. 2189
3247	3247	e. You are the spouse o r dependent of a member 2190
3248	3248	referred to in paragraph c. or paragraph d. as 2191
3249	3249	documented by a uniformed services dependent 2192
3250	3250	identification who, by reason of the active duty or 2193
3251	3251	service of the member, will be absent from the county 2194
3252	3252	on election day. 2195
3253	3253	f. You are currently residing outside the United 2196
3254	3254	States and provide one of the following: 2197
3255	3255	(I) Documents listed in Item 5.b. that are not 2198
3256	3256	current and a current equivalent document listing your 2199
3257	3257	non-United States residence. 2200
3258	3258
3259	3259	HB 1669 2024
3260	3260
3261	3261
3262	3262
3263	3263	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3264	3264	hb1669-00
3265	3265	Page 89 of 112
3266	3266	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3267	3267
3268	3268
3269	3269
3270	3270	(II) A consular report of birth abroad provide d 2201
3271	3271	by the United States Department of State and proof 2202
3272	3272	that parents previously resided in the state of 2203
3273	3273	Florida. 2204
3274	3274	2205
3275	3275	Documents provided under Item 6. may be provided to 2206
3276	3276	election officials using mail, e -mail, or fax. 2207
3277	3277	7.8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter's 2208
3278	3278	Certificate into the mailing envelope addressed to the 2209
3279	3279	supervisor. Insert a copy of your identification in 2210
3280	3280	the identification mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR 2211
3281	3281	IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE 2212
3282	3282	BALLOT OR INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS TH E VOTER'S 2213
3283	3283	CERTIFICATE OR YOUR BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT. 2214
3284	3284	8. Place both the envelope bearing the Voter's 2215
3285	3285	Certificate and the identification envelope into the 2216
3286	3286	mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. 2217
3287	3287	9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the 2218
3288	3288	completed mailing envelope. Be sure there is 2219
3289	3289	sufficient postage if mailed. 2220
3290	3290	10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida 2221
3291	3291	law to accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in 2222
3292	3292	exchange for your vote for a candidate. It is also a 2223
3293	3293	felony under Florida law to vote in an elec tion using 2224
3294	3294	a false identity or false address, or under any other 2225
3295	3295
3296	3296	HB 1669 2024
3297	3297
3298	3298
3299	3299
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3301	3301	hb1669-00
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3303	3303	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3304	3304
3305	3305
3306	3306
3307	3307	circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent. 2226
3308	3308	2227
3309	3309	Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection 2228
3310	3310	(2) of section 102.012, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2229
3311	3311	102.012 Inspectors, and clerks, and absentee vote 2230
3312	3312	processing workers to conduct elections. — 2231
3313	3313	(1)(a) The supervisor of elections of each county, at 2232
3314	3314	least 20 days before prior to the holding of any election, shall 2233
3315	3315	appoint an election board comprised of poll workers who serve as 2234
3316	3316	clerks or inspectors for each precinct in the county and shall 2235
3317	3317	recruit absentee vote processing workers . The clerk shall be in 2236
3318	3318	charge of, and responsible for, seeing that the election board 2237
3319	3319	carries out its duties and responsibilities. Each in spector, 2238
3320	3320	absentee vote processing worker, and each clerk shall take and 2239
3321	3321	subscribe to an oath or affirmation, which shall be written or 2240
3322	3322	printed, to the effect that he or she will perform the duties of 2241
3323	3323	inspector, absentee vote processing worker, or clerk of 2242
3324	3324	election, respectively, according to law and will endeavor to 2243
3325	3325	prevent all fraud, deceit, or abuse in conducting the election. 2244
3326	3326	The oath may be taken before an officer authorized to administer 2245
3327	3327	oaths or before any of the persons who are to act as inspectors, 2246
3328	3328	one of them to swear the others, and one of the others sworn 2247
3329	3329	thus, in turn, to administer the oath to the one who has not 2248
3330	3330	been sworn. The oaths shall be returned with the poll list and 2249
3331	3331	the returns of the election to the supervisor. In all questions 2250
3332	3332
3333	3333	HB 1669 2024
3334	3334
3335	3335
3336	3336
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3340	3340	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3341	3341
3342	3342
3343	3343
3344	3344	that may arise before the members of an election board, the 2251
3345	3345	decision of a majority of them shall decide the question. The 2252
3346	3346	supervisor of elections of each county shall be responsible for 2253
3347	3347	the attendance and diligent performance of his or her duties by 2254
3348	3348	each clerk, absentee vote processing worker, and inspector. 2255
3349	3349	(2) Each member of the election board and each absentee 2256
3350	3350	vote processing worker must shall be able to read and write the 2257
3351	3351	English language and shall be a registered qualified elector of 2258
3352	3352	the county in which the member is appointed or a person who has 2259
3353	3353	preregistered to vote, pursuant to s. 97.041(1)(b), in the 2260
3354	3354	county in which the member is appointed. An No election board or 2261
3355	3355	work area of an absentee vote counting location may not shall be 2262
3356	3356	composed solely of members of one political party , except that; 2263
3357	3357	however, in any primary in which only one party has candidates 2264
3358	3358	appearing on the ballot, all clerks and inspectors may be of 2265
3359	3359	that party. Any person whose name appears as an opposed 2266
3360	3360	candidate for any office shall not be eligible to serve on an 2267
3361	3361	election board. 2268
3362	3362	Section 20. Section 102.014, Florida Statutes, is amended 2269
3363	3363	to read: 2270
3364	3364	102.014 Poll worker recruitment and training. — 2271
3365	3365	(1) The supervisor of elections shall conduct training for 2272
3366	3366	inspectors, clerks, absentee vote processing workers, and deputy 2273
3367	3367	sheriffs before prior to each primary, general, and special 2274
3368	3368	election for the purpose of instructing such persons in their 2275
3369	3369
3370	3370	HB 1669 2024
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3372	3372
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3377	3377	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3378	3378
3379	3379
3380	3380
3381	3381	duties and responsibilities as election officials. The Division 2276
3382	3382	of Elections shall develop a statewide uniform training 2277
3383	3383	curriculum for poll workers, and each supervisor shall use such 2278
3384	3384	curriculum in training poll workers. The Department of State 2279
3385	3385	shall develop a statewide uniform training curriculum for 2280
3386	3386	absentee vote processing wo rkers, and each supervisor shall use 2281
3387	3387	such curriculum in training absentee vote processing workers. A 2282
3388	3388	certificate may be issued by the supervisor of elections to each 2283
3389	3389	person completing such training. No person shall serve as an 2284
3390	3390	inspector, clerk, absentee vote processing worker, or deputy 2285
3391	3391	sheriff for an election unless such person has completed the 2286
3392	3392	training as required. A clerk may not work at the polls unless 2287
3393	3393	he or she demonstrates a working knowledge of the laws and 2288
3394	3394	procedures relating to voter registration , voting system 2289
3395	3395	operation, balloting and polling place procedures, and problem -2290
3396	3396	solving and conflict -resolution skills. An absentee vote 2291
3397	3397	processing worker may not work in the vote processing center 2292
3398	3398	unless he or she demonstrates a working knowledge of the la ws 2293
3399	3399	and procedures relating to chain of custody, the work areas to 2294
3400	3400	which he or she may be assigned, physical security requirements, 2295
3401	3401	and problem-solving and conflict -resolution skills. 2296
3402	3402	(2) A person who has attended previous training conducted 2297
3403	3403	within 2 years before the election may be appointed by the 2298
3404	3404	supervisor to fill a vacancy on an election board or at an 2299
3405	3405	absentee vote processing location . If no person with prior 2300
3406	3406
3407	3407	HB 1669 2024
3408	3408
3409	3409
3410	3410
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3414	3414	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3415	3415
3416	3416
3417	3417
3418	3418	training is available to fill such vacancy, the supervisor of 2301
3419	3419	elections may fill such vacanc y in accordance with the 2302
3420	3420	provisions of subsection (3) from among persons who have not 2303
3421	3421	received the training required by this section. 2304
3422	3422	(3) In the case of absence or refusal to act on the part 2305
3423	3423	of any absentee vote processing worker, inspector, or clerk, the 2306
3424	3424	supervisor shall appoint a replacement who meets the 2307
3425	3425	qualifications prescribed in s. 102.012(2). The absentee vote 2308
3426	3426	processing worker, inspector, or clerk so appointed shall be a 2309
3427	3427	member of the same political party as the absentee vote 2310
3428	3428	processing worker, clerk, or inspector whom he or she replaces. 2311
3429	3429	(4) Each supervisor of elections shall be responsible for 2312
3430	3430	training absentee vote processing workers, inspectors, and 2313
3431	3431	clerks, subject to the following minimum requirements: 2314
3432	3432	(a) A No clerk may not shall be entitled to work at the 2315
3433	3433	polls unless he or she has had a minimum of 3 hours of training 2316
3434	3434	before prior to each election. 2317
3435	3435	(b) An No inspector may not shall work at the polls unless 2318
3436	3436	he or she has had a minimum of 2 hours of training before prior 2319
3437	3437	to each election. 2320
3438	3438	(c) An absentee vote processing worker may not work in a 2321
3439	3439	work area unless he or she has had a minimum of 2 hours of 2322
3440	3440	training before each election, including training for the work 2323
3441	3441	area to which he or she is assigned. 2324
3442	3442	(5) The Department of State shall create a uniform polling 2325
3443	3443
3444	3444	HB 1669 2024
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3446	3446
3447	3447
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3451	3451	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3452	3452
3453	3453
3454	3454
3455	3455	place procedures manual and an absentee vote processing 2326
3456	3456	procedures manual and adopt the manuals manual by rule. Each 2327
3457	3457	supervisor of elections shall ensure that the appropriate manual 2328
3458	3458	is available in hard copy or electronic form in e very polling 2329
3459	3459	place and absentee vote processing location . The manuals manual 2330
3460	3460	shall guide absentee vote processing workers, inspectors, 2331
3461	3461	clerks, and deputy sheriffs in the proper implementation of 2332
3462	3462	election procedures and laws. The manuals manual shall be 2333
3463	3463	indexed by subject, and written in plain, clear, unambiguous 2334
3464	3464	language. The manual shall provide specific examples of common 2335
3465	3465	problems encountered at the polls and detail specific procedures 2336
3466	3466	for resolving those problems. 2337
3467	3467	(a) The polling place procedures manual shall include, 2338
3468	3468	without limitation: 2339
3469	3469	1.(a) Regulations governing solicitation by individuals 2340
3470	3470	and groups at the polling place .; 2341
3471	3471	2.(b) Procedures to be followed with respect to voters 2342
3472	3472	whose names are not on the precinct register .; 2343
3473	3473	3.(c) Proper operation of the voting system .; 2344
3474	3474	4.(d) Ballot handling procedures .; 2345
3475	3475	5.(e) Procedures governing spoiled ballots; 2346
3476	3476	6.(f) Procedures to be followed after the polls close .; 2347
3477	3477	7.(g) Rights of voters at the polls .; 2348
3478	3478	8.(h) Procedures for handling emergency situations .; 2349
3479	3479	9.(i) Procedures for dealing with irate voters .; 2350
3480	3480
3481	3481	HB 1669 2024
3482	3482
3483	3483
3484	3484
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3488	3488	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3489	3489
3490	3490
3491	3491
3492	3492	10.(j) The handling and processing of provisional 2351
3493	3493	ballots.; and 2352
3494	3494	11.(k) Security procedures. 2353
3495	3495	12. Chain of custody procedures. 2354
3496	3496	13. Communications devi ce policy. 2355
3497	3497	14. Rights and responsibilities of poll watchers at the 2356
3498	3498	polls. 2357
3499	3499	(b) The absentee vote processing manual shall include, but 2358
3500	3500	not be limited to: 2359
3501	3501	1. Regulations governing use of cell phones and wireless 2360
3502	3502	networking at the vote counting location. 2361
3503	3503	2. Proper communication settings and operation of vote 2362
3504	3504	counting location technologies. 2363
3505	3505	3. Procedures for management and use of portable storage 2364
3506	3506	media. 2365
3507	3507	4. Procedures for chain of custody between work areas and 2366
3508	3508	storage. 2367
3509	3509	5. Procedures for curing of b allots. 2368
3510	3510	6. Access to and control of ballots in storage or within 2369
3511	3511	work areas during working and nonworking hours. 2370
3512	3512	7. Rights and responsibilities of public watchers at the 2371
3513	3513	absentee vote processing location. 2372
3514	3514	8. Security procedures including building sec urity, 2373
3515	3515	physical port security, and system cybersecurity. 2374
3516	3516	9. Beginning of shift procedures. 2375
3517	3517
3518	3518	HB 1669 2024
3519	3519
3520	3520
3521	3521
3522	3522	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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3525	3525	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3526	3526
3527	3527
3528	3528
3529	3529	10. End of shift procedures. 2376
3530	3530	11. Rights and responsibilities of public watchers at the 2377
3531	3531	absentee vote processing location. 2378
3532	3532	12. Ballot accounting and reconcili ation reports. 2379
3533	3533	2380
3534	3534	The Department of State shall revise the manuals manual as 2381
3535	3535	necessary to address new procedures in law or problems 2382
3536	3536	encountered by voters and poll workers at the precincts and by 2383
3537	3537	absentee vote processing workers at absentee vote counting 2384
3538	3538	locations. 2385
3539	3539	(6) Supervisors of elections shall work with the business 2386
3540	3540	and local community to develop public -private programs to ensure 2387
3541	3541	the recruitment of skilled absentee vote processing workers, 2388
3542	3542	inspectors, and clerks. 2389
3543	3543	(7) The Department of State shall develop a mandatory, 2390
3544	3544	statewide, and uniform program for training poll workers on 2391
3545	3545	issues of etiquette and sensitivity with respect to voters 2392
3546	3546	having a disability. The program must be conducted locally by 2393
3547	3547	each supervisor of elections, and each poll worker mu st complete 2394
3548	3548	the program before working during the current election cycle. 2395
3549	3549	The supervisor of elections shall contract with a recognized 2396
3550	3550	disability-related organization, such as a center for 2397
3551	3551	independent living, family network on disabilities, deaf service 2398
3552	3552	bureau, or other such organization, to develop and assist with 2399
3553	3553	training the trainers in the disability sensitivity programs. 2400
3554	3554
3555	3555	HB 1669 2024
3556	3556
3557	3557
3558	3558
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3562	3562	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3563	3563
3564	3564
3565	3565
3566	3566	The program must include actual demonstrations of obstacles 2401
3567	3567	confronted by disabled persons during the voting process, 2402
3568	3568	including obtaining access to the polling place, traveling 2403
3569	3569	through the polling area, and using the voting system. 2404
3570	3570	Section 21. Subsections (3) through (11) of section 2405
3571	3571	102.141, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) 2406
3572	3572	through (13), respectively, subsection ( 1), paragraph (a) of 2407
3573	3573	subsection (2), and present subsection (7) are amended, and new 2408
3574	3574	subsections (3) and (4) are added to that section, to read: 2409
3575	3575	102.141 County canvassing board; duties. — 2410
3576	3576	(1) The county canvassing board shall be composed of the 2411
3577	3577	supervisor of elections; a county court judge, who shall act as 2412
3578	3578	chair; and the chair of the board of county commissioners ; and 2413
3579	3579	two elected municipal officials. The elected municipal officials 2414
3580	3580	assigned to the canvassing board shall rotate amongst the 2415
3581	3581	municipalities within the county so that the municipal elected 2416
3582	3582	official is different every election cycle. The canvassing board 2417
3583	3583	must have at least two members from each major political party . 2418
3584	3584	The names of the canvassing board members must be published on 2419
3585	3585	the supervisor's website upon completion of the logic and 2420
3586	3586	accuracy test. At least two alternate canvassing board members 2421
3587	3587	must be appointed pursuant to paragraph (e). In the event any 2422
3588	3588	member of the county canvassing board is unable to serve, is a 2423
3589	3589	candidate who has opposit ion in the election being canvassed, or 2424
3590	3590	is an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any 2425
3591	3591
3592	3592	HB 1669 2024
3593	3593
3594	3594
3595	3595
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3599	3599	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3600	3600
3601	3601
3602	3602
3603	3603	candidate who has opposition in the election being canvassed, 2426
3604	3604	such member shall be replaced as follows: 2427
3605	3605	(a) If a county court judge is unable to serve or if all 2428
3606	3606	are disqualified, the chief judge of the judicial circuit in 2429
3607	3607	which the county is located must appoint as a substitute member 2430
3608	3608	a qualified elector of the county who is not a candidate with 2431
3609	3609	opposition in the election being canvassed and who is not an 2432
3610	3610	active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate 2433
3611	3611	with opposition in the election being canvassed. In such event, 2434
3612	3612	the members of the county canvassing board shall meet and elect 2435
3613	3613	a chair. 2436
3614	3614	(b) If the supervisor of elections is unable to serv e or 2437
3615	3615	is disqualified, the chair of the board of county commissioners 2438
3616	3616	must appoint as a substitute member a member of the board of 2439
3617	3617	county commissioners or a municipal official who is not a 2440
3618	3618	candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed and 2441
3619	3619	who is not an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of 2442
3620	3620	any candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed. 2443
3621	3621	The supervisor, however, shall act in an advisory capacity to 2444
3622	3622	the canvassing board. 2445
3623	3623	(c) If the chair of the board of county commissioners is 2446
3624	3624	unable to serve or is disqualified, the board of county 2447
3625	3625	commissioners must appoint as a substitute member one of its 2448
3626	3626	members who is not a candidate with opposition in the election 2449
3627	3627	being canvassed and who is not an active participant in the 2450
3628	3628
3629	3629	HB 1669 2024
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3631	3631
3632	3632
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3636	3636	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3637	3637
3638	3638
3639	3639
3640	3640	campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in the 2451
3641	3641	election being canvassed. 2452
3642	3642	(d) If a substitute member or alternate member cannot be 2453
3643	3643	appointed as provided elsewhere in this subsection, or in the 2454
3644	3644	event of a vacancy in such office, the chief judge of the 2455
3645	3645	judicial circuit in which the county is located must appoint as 2456
3646	3646	a substitute member or alternate member a qualified elector of 2457
3647	3647	the county who is not a candidate with opposition in the 2458
3648	3648	election being canvassed and who is not an active participant in 2459
3649	3649	the campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in 2460
3650	3650	the election being canvassed. 2461
3651	3651	(e)1. The chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the 2462
3652	3652	county is located shall appoint a county court judge as a n 2463
3653	3653	alternate member of the county canvassing board or, if each 2464
3654	3654	county court judge is unable to serve or is disqualified, shall 2465
3655	3655	appoint an alternate member who is qualified to serve as a 2466
3656	3656	substitute member under paragraph (a). Any alternate may serve 2467
3657	3657	in any seat. 2468
3658	3658	2. The chair of the board of county commissioners shall 2469
3659	3659	appoint a member of the board of county commissioners as an 2470
3660	3660	alternate member of the county canvassing board or, if each 2471
3661	3661	member of the board of county commissioners is unable to serve 2472
3662	3662	or is disqualified, shall appoint an alternate member who is 2473
3663	3663	qualified to serve as a substitute member under paragraph (d). 2474
3664	3664	3. A quorum of at least three members of the county 2475
3665	3665
3666	3666	HB 1669 2024
3667	3667
3668	3668
3669	3669
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3673	3673	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3674	3674
3675	3675
3676	3676
3677	3677	canvassing board is required for all signature and provisional 2476
3678	3678	ballot review proceedings . If quorum cannot be established a 2477
3679	3679	member of the county canvassing board is unable to participate 2478
3680	3680	in a meeting of the board , the chair of the county canvassing 2479
3681	3681	board or his or her designee must designate which alternate 2480
3682	3682	member will serve as a member of th e board in the place of the 2481
3683	3683	member who is unable to participate at that meeting. 2482
3684	3684	4. If not serving as one of the three members of the 2483
3685	3685	county canvassing board, an alternate member may be present, 2484
3686	3686	observe, and communicate with the three members constitutin g the 2485
3687	3687	county canvassing board, but may not vote in the board's 2486
3688	3688	decisions or determinations. 2487
3689	3689	(2)(a) The county canvassing board shall meet in a 2488
3690	3690	building accessible to the public in the county where the 2489
3691	3691	election occurred at a time and place to be designate d by the 2490
3692	3692	supervisor to publicly canvass the absent electors' ballots as 2491
3693	3693	provided for in s. 101.68 and provisional ballots as provided by 2492
3694	3694	ss. 101.048, 101.049, and 101.6925. During each meeting of the 2493
3695	3695	county canvassing board, each political party and each c andidate 2494
3696	3696	may have one watcher able to view directly or on a display 2495
3697	3697	screen ballots being examined for signature matching and other 2496
3698	3698	processes. Each county canvassing board meeting must be 2497
3699	3699	monitored by real-time video available for public viewing and 2498
3700	3700	meeting minutes for each such meeting must be published on the 2499
3701	3701	supervisor's website. Provisional ballots cast pursuant to s. 2500
3702	3702
3703	3703	HB 1669 2024
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3705	3705
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3710	3710	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3711	3711
3712	3712
3713	3713
3714	3714	101.049 shall be canvassed in a manner that votes for candidates 2501
3715	3715	and issues on those ballots can be segregated from other votes. 2502
3716	3716	As soon as the absent electors' ballots and the provisional 2503
3717	3717	ballots are canvassed, the board shall proceed to publicly 2504
3718	3718	canvass the vote given each candidate, nominee, constitutional 2505
3719	3719	amendment, or other measure submitted to the electorate of the 2506
3720	3720	county, as shown by the returns then on file in the office of 2507
3721	3721	the supervisor. 2508
3722	3722	(3)(a) Each day during an election, the county canvassing 2509
3723	3723	board shall review all of the following reports: 2510
3724	3724	1. Exception reports on ballot chain of custody 2511
3725	3725	documentation, including missing quanti ties, seals, and 2512
3726	3726	excessive transport times. 2513
3727	3727	2. Daily precinct and vote -by-mail ballot reconciliation 2514
3728	3728	reports. 2515
3729	3729	3. Daily manual cross -check reports in accordance with s. 2516
3730	3730	101.015(7). 2517
3731	3731	4. Portable data storage device chain of custody reports. 2518
3732	3732	5. Physical building and ballot storage area exception 2519
3733	3733	reports. 2520
3734	3734	(b) Upon completing the review required under paragraph 2521
3735	3735	(a), the county canvassing board shall take corrective actions 2522
3736	3736	as necessary and report to the department any issue that cannot 2523
3737	3737	be resolved. 2524
3738	3738	(4)(a) Before certifying an election the county canvassing 2525
3739	3739
3740	3740	HB 1669 2024
3741	3741
3742	3742
3743	3743
3744	3744	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3745	3745	hb1669-00
3746	3746	Page 102 of 112
3747	3747	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3748	3748
3749	3749
3750	3750
3751	3751	board shall review all of the following: 2526
3752	3752	1. Vote-by-mail reconciliation report outlined in s 2527
3753	3753	101.015(4)(c). 2528
3754	3754	2. The ballot, envelope, and seal accounting report 2529
3755	3755	required under s. 101.21(2). 2530
3756	3756	3. Ballot chain of custody reports from precincts, 2531
3757	3757	including reports on the transport of vote -by-mail ballots to 2532
3758	3758	permanent storage. 2533
3759	3759	(b) Any discrepancies identified in the review must be 2534
3760	3760	reported to the department. If a discrepancy involves a number 2535
3761	3761	of ballots that exceeds the margin of victory in any local race, 2536
3762	3762	the race may not be certified unless the discrepancy is 2537
3763	3763	resolved. If the discrepancy is not resolved, the race shall be 2538
3764	3764	deemed invalid and a special election must be held to fill the 2539
3765	3765	office in accordance with chapter 100. If the discrepancy is 2540
3766	3766	determined to be due to chain of custody mismanagement, the 2541
3767	3767	supervisor may be removed from office. 2542
3768	3768	(9)(7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate 2543
3769	3769	for any office was defeated or eliminated by one -half of a 2544
3770	3770	percent or less of the votes cast for such office, that a 2545
3771	3771	candidate for retention to a judicial office was retained or not 2546
3772	3772	retained by one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on 2547
3773	3773	the question of retention, or that a measure appearing on the 2548
3774	3774	ballot was approved or rejected by one -half of a percent or less 2549
3775	3775	of the votes cast on such measure, a manual recount using 2550
3776	3776
3777	3777	HB 1669 2024
3778	3778
3779	3779
3780	3780
3781	3781	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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3783	3783	Page 103 of 112
3784	3784	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3785	3785
3786	3786
3787	3787
3788	3788	original paper ballots and voter certificate envelopes shall be 2551
3789	3789	ordered of the votes cast with respect to such office or 2552
3790	3790	measure. The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering 2553
3791	3791	recounts in federal, state, and multicounty races. The county 2554
3792	3792	canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying 2555
3793	3793	the election is responsible for ordering recounts in all other 2556
3794	3794	races. A recount need not be ordered with respect to the returns 2557
3795	3795	for any office, however, if the candidate or candidates defeated 2558
3796	3796	or eliminated from contention for such office by one -half of a 2559
3797	3797	percent or less of the votes cast for such office request in 2560
3798	3798	writing that a recount not be made. 2561
3799	3799	(a) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a 2562
3800	3800	recount shall oversee a manual recount using original hand -2563
3801	3801	marked paper ballots and voter certificate envelopes and 2564
3802	3802	determine whether the returns correctly reflect the votes cast. 2565
3803	3803	The recount must include undervotes, overvotes, and blank 2566
3804	3804	ballots put each marksense ballot through automatic tabulating 2567
3805	3805	equipment and determine whether the returns correctly reflect 2568
3806	3806	the votes cast. If any marksense ballot is physically damaged so 2569
3807	3807	that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic tabulating 2570
3808	3808	equipment during the recount, a true duplicate shall be made of 2571
3809	3809	the damaged ballot pursuant to the procedures in s. 101.5614(4). 2572
3810	3810	Immediately before the start of the recount, a test of the 2573
3811	3811	tabulating equipment shall be conducted as provided in s. 2574
3812	3812	101.5612. If the test indicates no error, the recount tabulation 2575
3813	3813
3814	3814	HB 1669 2024
3815	3815
3816	3816
3817	3817
3818	3818	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3819	3819	hb1669-00
3820	3820	Page 104 of 112
3821	3821	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3822	3822
3823	3823
3824	3824
3825	3825	of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and such votes 2576
3826	3826	shall be canvassed accordingly. If an error is detected, the 2577
3827	3827	cause therefor shall be ascert ained and corrected and the 2578
3828	3828	recount repeated, as necessary. The canvassing board shall 2579
3829	3829	immediately report the error, along with the cause of the error 2580
3830	3830	and the corrective measures being taken, to the Department of 2581
3831	3831	State. No later than 11 days after the elec tion, the canvassing 2582
3832	3832	board shall file a separate incident report with the Department 2583
3833	3833	of State, detailing the resolution of the matter and identifying 2584
3834	3834	any measures that will avoid a future recurrence of the error. 2585
3835	3835	If the automatic tabulating equipment used in a recount is not 2586
3836	3836	part of the voting system and the ballots have already been 2587
3837	3837	processed through such equipment, the canvassing board is not 2588
3838	3838	required to put each ballot through any automatic tabulating 2589
3839	3839	equipment again. 2590
3840	3840	(b) Each canvassing board responsi ble for conducting a 2591
3841	3841	recount where touchscreen ballots were used shall manually 2592
3842	3842	recount the paper output from each device examine the counters 2593
3843	3843	on the precinct tabulators to ensure that the total of the 2594
3844	3844	returns on the precinct tabulators equals the overall election 2595
3845	3845	return. If there is a discrepancy between the overall election 2596
3846	3846	return and the counters of the precinct tabulators, the counters 2597
3847	3847	of the precinct tabulators shall be presumed correct and such 2598
3848	3848	votes shall be canvassed accordingly . 2599
3849	3849	(c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in 2600
3850	3850
3851	3851	HB 1669 2024
3852	3852
3853	3853
3854	3854
3855	3855	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3856	3856	hb1669-00
3857	3857	Page 105 of 112
3858	3858	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3859	3859
3860	3860
3861	3861
3862	3862	formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial 2601
3863	3863	returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide, 2602
3864	3864	state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns 2603
3865	3865	shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th day after any 2604
3866	3866	primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th day after 2605
3867	3867	any general election in which a recount was ordered by the 2606
3868	3868	Secretary of State. If the canvassing board is unable to 2607
3869	3869	complete the recount prescribed in this subsection b y the 2608
3870	3870	deadline, the second set of unofficial returns submitted by the 2609
3871	3871	canvassing board shall be identical to the initial unofficial 2610
3872	3872	returns and the submission shall also include a detailed 2611
3873	3873	explanation of why it was unable to timely complete the recount. 2612
3874	3874	However, the canvassing board shall complete the recount 2613
3875	3875	prescribed in this subsection, along with any manual recount 2614
3876	3876	prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify election returns in 2615
3877	3877	accordance with the requirements of this chapter. 2616
3878	3878	(d) The Department of State sh all adopt detailed rules 2617
3879	3879	prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified 2618
3880	3880	voting system, which shall be uniform to the extent practicable. 2619
3881	3881	Section 22. Subsection (1) is renumbered as subsection (2) 2620
3882	3882	and subsections (2) through (6) of section 102.166, Florida 2621
3883	3883	Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) through (10), 2622
3884	3884	respectively, present subsections (1) and (5) are amended, and 2623
3885	3885	new subsections (1), (3), (4), and (5) are added to that 2624
3886	3886	section, to read: 2625
3887	3887
3888	3888	HB 1669 2024
3889	3889
3890	3890
3891	3891
3892	3892	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3893	3893	hb1669-00
3894	3894	Page 106 of 112
3895	3895	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3896	3896
3897	3897
3898	3898
3899	3899	102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.— 2626
3900	3900	(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the 2627
3901	3901	contrary, if the first set of unofficial returns pursuant to s. 2628
3902	3902	102.141 indicates that a candidate for any office was defeated 2629
3903	3903	or eliminated by 2 percent or less of the votes cast for such 2630
3904	3904	office, or if a candidate for retention to a judicial office was 2631
3905	3905	retained or not retained by 3 percent or less of the votes cast 2632
3906	3906	on the question of retention, the candidate may request a full 2633
3907	3907	manual recount of the original handmarked paper ballots ca st in 2634
3908	3908	the entire geographic jurisdiction of such office in view of the 2635
3909	3909	public. Voting equipment, including tabulators, may not be used 2636
3910	3910	to sort or count ballots in the manual recount process. Ballot 2637
3911	3911	images may not be used as a substitute for the original 2638
3912	3912	handmarked paper ballots. Only original handmarked ballots and 2639
3913	3913	paper output from voter interface devices may be used in the 2640
3914	3914	manual recount process. Candidates and candidates' designees 2641
3915	3915	must immediately be provided all requested reports, chain of 2642
3916	3916	custody forms, data, and log files and any other requested 2643
3917	3917	information from any system used during the election, including 2644
3918	3918	voting systems and other election systems. 2645
3919	3919	(2)(1) If the second set of unofficial returns pursuant to 2646
3920	3920	s. 102.141 indicates that a candidate for any office was 2647
3921	3921	defeated or eliminated by 1 one-quarter of a percent or less of 2648
3922	3922	the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for retention 2649
3923	3923	to a judicial office was retained or not retained by 1 one-2650
3924	3924
3925	3925	HB 1669 2024
3926	3926
3927	3927
3928	3928
3929	3929	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3930	3930	hb1669-00
3931	3931	Page 107 of 112
3932	3932	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3933	3933
3934	3934
3935	3935
3936	3936	quarter of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question 2651
3937	3937	of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was 2652
3938	3938	approved or rejected by one -quarter of a percent or less of the 2653
3939	3939	votes cast on such measure, a manual recount of the overvotes 2654
3940	3940	and undervotes cast in the entire geographic jurisdiction of 2655
3941	3941	such office or ballot measure shall be ordered and conducted 2656
3942	3942	using original handmarked ballots and paper output from voter 2657
3943	3943	interface devices in view of the public, unless: 2658
3944	3944	(a) The candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated 2659
3945	3945	from contention by one-quarter of 1 percent or fewer of the 2660
3946	3946	votes cast for such office request in writing that a recount not 2661
3947	3947	be made; or 2662
3948	3948	(b) The number of overvotes and undervotes is fewer than 2663
3949	3949	the number of votes needed to change the outcome of the 2664
3950	3950	election. 2665
3951	3951	2666
3952	3952	The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering a manual 2667
3953	3953	recount for federal, state, and multicounty races. The county 2668
3954	3954	canvassing board or local board responsible for certifying the 2669
3955	3955	election is responsible for ordering a manual recount for all 2670
3956	3956	other races. A manual reco unt consists of a recount of marksense 2671
3957	3957	ballots or of digital images of those ballots by a person. 2672
3958	3958	(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the 2673
3959	3959	contrary, if a measure appearing on the ballot was approved or 2674
3960	3960	rejected by 2 percent or less of the votes cast on such measure, 2675
3961	3961
3962	3962	HB 1669 2024
3963	3963
3964	3964
3965	3965
3966	3966	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3967	3967	hb1669-00
3968	3968	Page 108 of 112
3969	3969	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3970	3970
3971	3971
3972	3972
3973	3973	the Secretary of State or a county canvassing board or local 2676
3974	3974	board responsible for certifying the election in a county that 2677
3975	3975	is in the geographic jurisdiction of such measure may request a 2678
3976	3976	full manual recount of the original han dmarked paper ballots 2679
3977	3977	cast in the entire geographic jurisdiction of such ballot 2680
3978	3978	measure in view of the public. Voting equipment, including 2681
3979	3979	tabulators, may not be used to sort or count ballots in the 2682
3980	3980	manual recount process. Ballot images may not be used as a 2683
3981	3981	substitute for the original handmarked paper ballots. Only 2684
3982	3982	original handmarked paper ballots may be used in the manual 2685
3983	3983	recount process. The Secretary of State or the county canvassing 2686
3984	3984	board or local board must immediately be provided all requested 2687
3985	3985	reports, chain of custody forms, data, and log files and any 2688
3986	3986	other requested information from any equipment used during the 2689
3987	3987	election, including voting systems and other election systems. 2690
3988	3988	(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the 2691
3989	3989	contrary, upon delivery of a petition signed by at least 5 2692
3990	3990	percent of county voters, a comprehensive audit must be 2693
3991	3991	conducted and include all paper ballots, vote -by-mail voter 2694
3992	3992	certificate envelopes, digital ballots, digital signatures in 2695
3993	3993	voter roll file alongside the corre sponding digital signatures 2696
3994	3994	of vote-by-mail voter certificate envelopes, voter rolls, and 2697
3995	3995	other equipment used in the given precinct election being 2698
3996	3996	audited. The auditors for such audit must be chosen by the 2699
3997	3997	petitioning voters and the audit must be complete d in view of 2700
3998	3998
3999	3999	HB 1669 2024
4000	4000
4001	4001
4002	4002
4003	4003	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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4005	4005	Page 109 of 112
4006	4006	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4007	4007
4008	4008
4009	4009
4010	4010	the public. 2701
4011	4011	(a) If the electors' petition concerns a single race, a 2702
4012	4012	manual audit shall consist of a public manual tally of the votes 2703
4013	4013	cast in that race appearing on the ballot. The tally sheet must 2704
4014	4014	include election day, vote -by-mail, early voting, provisional, 2705
4015	4015	and overseas paper ballots. In addition, the audit must include 2706
4016	4016	data collection and signature comparison, whether in paper or 2707
4017	4017	electronic form, of all vote -by-mail voter certificate 2708
4018	4018	envelopes, paper ballots, signatures, including all si gnatures 2709
4019	4019	in voter registration files, voter roll files, and other 2710
4020	4020	equipment used in the voting district being audited. 2711
4021	4021	(b) If the electors' petition concerns the votes cast 2712
4022	4022	across every race that appears on the ballot, a manual audit of 2713
4023	4023	the votes cast across every race appearing on the ballot shall 2714
4024	4024	be conducted. The tally sheet must include election day, vote -2715
4025	4025	by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas paper ballots. 2716
4026	4026	In addition, the audit must include data collection and 2717
4027	4027	signature comparison, whethe r in paper or electronic form, of 2718
4028	4028	all vote-by-mail voter certificate envelopes; ballots; 2719
4029	4029	signatures, including all signatures in voter registration 2720
4030	4030	files; voter roll files; and other equipment used in the voting 2721
4031	4031	district being audited. 2722
4032	4032	(5) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the 2723
4033	4033	contrary, if there is a discrepancy of more than the margin of 2724
4034	4034	victory in any race on the ballot reconciliation report, a 2725
4035	4035
4036	4036	HB 1669 2024
4037	4037
4038	4038
4039	4039
4040	4040	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4041	4041	hb1669-00
4042	4042	Page 110 of 112
4043	4043	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4044	4044
4045	4045
4046	4046
4047	4047	manual audit of original ballots, voter certificate envelopes, 2726
4048	4048	and chain of custody forms must be completed for that race, 2727
4049	4049	including all paper ballots, vote -by-mail voter certificate 2728
4050	4050	envelopes, digital ballots, digital signatures in voter roll 2729
4051	4051	file alongside the corresponding digital signatures of the vote -2730
4052	4052	by-mail voter certificate envelopes, voter rolls, and other 2731
4053	4053	equipment used in the given precinct election being audited. The 2732
4054	4054	auditors for such audit must be chosen by the Division of 2733
4055	4055	Elections and the audit must be completed in view of the public. 2734
4056	4056	(6)(5) Procedures for a manual recount are as fol lows: 2735
4057	4057	(a) The county canvassing board shall appoint as many 2736
4058	4058	counting teams of at least two electors as is necessary to 2737
4059	4059	manually recount the ballots. A counting team must have, when 2738
4060	4060	possible, members of at least two political parties. A candidate 2739
4061	4061	involved in the race shall not be a member of the counting team. 2740
4062	4062	(b) Each duplicate ballot prepared pursuant to s. 2741
4063	4063	101.5614(4) or s. 102.141(9) s. 102.141(7) shall be compared 2742
4064	4064	with the original ballot to ensure the correctness of the 2743
4065	4065	duplicate. 2744
4066	4066	(c) If a counting team is unable to determine whether the 2745
4067	4067	ballot contains a clear indication that the voter has made a 2746
4068	4068	definite choice, the ballot shall be presented to the county 2747
4069	4069	canvassing board for a determination. 2748
4070	4070	(d) The Department of State shall adopt detailed ru les 2749
4071	4071	prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified 2750
4072	4072
4073	4073	HB 1669 2024
4074	4074
4075	4075
4076	4076
4077	4077	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4078	4078	hb1669-00
4079	4079	Page 111 of 112
4080	4080	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4081	4081
4082	4082
4083	4083
4084	4084	voting system which shall be uniform to the extent practicable. 2751
4085	4085	The rules shall address, at a minimum, the following areas: 2752
4086	4086	1. Security of ballots during the recount process; 2753
4087	4087	2. Time and place of recounts; 2754
4088	4088	3. Public observance of recounts; 2755
4089	4089	4. Objections to ballot determinations; 2756
4090	4090	5. Record of recount proceedings; 2757
4091	4091	6. Procedures relating to candidate and petitioner 2758
4092	4092	representatives; and 2759
4093	4093	7. Procedures relating to the certification and the use of 2760
4094	4094	automatic tabulating equipment that is not part of a voting 2761
4095	4095	system. 2762
4096	4096	Section 23. Section 104.21, Florida Statutes, is amended 2763
4097	4097	to read: 2764
4098	4098	104.21 Changing electors' ballots or voter certificate 2765
4099	4099	envelopes.— 2766
4100	4100	(1) Whoever fraudulently changes or attempts to change the 2767
4101	4101	vote or ballot of any elector, by which actions such elector is 2768
4102	4102	prevented from voting such ballot or from voting such ballot as 2769
4103	4103	the elector intended, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, 2770
4104	4104	punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s . 775.083, or s. 775.084. 2771
4105	4105	(2) An election worker who changes any information or 2772
4106	4106	marking on a voter certificate envelope in an attempt to cure an 2773
4107	4107	envelope deficiency commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, 2774
4108	4108	punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 77 5.083. 2775
4109	4109
4110	4110	HB 1669 2024
4111	4111
4112	4112
4113	4113
4114	4114	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4115	4115	hb1669-00
4116	4116	Page 112 of 112
4117	4117	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4118	4118
4119	4119
4120	4120
4121	4121	Section 24. Section 104.291, Florida Statutes, is created 2776
4122	4122	to read: 2777
4123	4123	104.291 False representation of poll watcher 2778
4124	4124	identification.—A poll watcher who wears a poll watcher 2779
4125	4125	identification badge that belongs to another person commits a 2780
4126	4126	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 2781
4127	4127	775.082 or s. 775.083. 2782
4128	4128	Section 25. Section 104.30, Florida Statutes, is amended 2783
4129	4129	to read: 2784
4130	4130	104.30 Voting system; unlawful possession; tampering. — 2785
4131	4131	(1) Any unauthorized person who unlawfully has possess ion 2786
4132	4132	of any voting system, components, or key thereof commits is 2787
4133	4133	guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as 2788
4134	4134	provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 2789
4135	4135	(2) Any person who tampers or attempts to tamper with or 2790
4136	4136	destroy any voting system or equipment with the intention of 2791
4137	4137	interfering with the election process or the results thereof 2792
4138	4138	commits is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as 2793
4139	4139	provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 2794
4140	4140	(3) Any person who without lawful authorization prints a 2795
4141	4141	ballot or voter certificate envelope that appears to be a valid 2796
4142	4142	ballot or voter certificate envelope in this state commits a 2797
4143	4143	felony of the third degree, puni shable as provided in s. 2798
4144	4144	775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 2799
4145	4145	Section 26. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 2800