During the 2023 Legislative Session sweeping changes were made to the Florida elections systems via SB7050. Here is a breakdown of what was included in that bill. You can also click here for a PDF version and see the bill text here.
- Changes an existing requirement for signature matching training and requires the Department of State to promulgate related rules.
- Changes registration requirements, procedures, deadlines, prohibitions, and fines for third party voter registration organizations (also known as 3PVROs)
- Requires voter registration forms collected by 3PVROs to be submitted to SOE within 10 days vs 14 days.
- Requires 3PVROs to re-register with every election cycle.
- New fines for late forms are substantially increased; for example the bill makes each application delivered more than 10 days after it was submitted to $50 per each day late, up to a maximum of $2,500.
- The bill requires an organization to affirm that each person collecting or handling voter registrations on its behalf:
- Has not been convicted of a felony violation of the Election Code or of a specified felony related to identity theft.
- Is a citizen of the United States.
- These two new rules will set unnecessary restrictions on who can help with voter registration as a volunteer.
- The bill requires a new receipt be provided by the 3PVRO to every person they register.
- The following statement must now be printed on all voter registration cards: “This card is for information purposes only. This card is proof of registration but is not legal verification of eligibility to vote. It is the responsibility of a voter to keep his or her eligibility status current. A voter may confirm his or her eligibility to vote with the Department of State.”
- This is designed to create confusion and absolve responsibility by the state if someone is issued a voter registration card but is not eligible to vote.
- Revises processes to be used by supervisors of elections and the Department of State in voter registration list maintenance activities and changes information other governmental entities must provide for that purpose.
- Reenacts a public records exemption for certain voter registration information received from another state or the District of Columbia.
- Updates requirements for providing voter signature update information and for the process of signature verification.
- Updates requirements for post-election reports.
- Creates a new candidate disclosure requirement for certain outstanding fines and fees.
- Prescribes requirements for use of a candidate nickname on a ballot.
- Specifies how candidates with the same surname running for the same office in a general election may be distinguished on the ballot.
- Clarifies costs that supervisors of elections may charge for verification of signatures on petitions.
- Modernizes notice requirements by authorizing notice to be made on specified websites instead of in a local newspaper.
- Updates requirements for precinct boundary data maintained by supervisors.
- Clarifies situations in which a provisional ballot must be voted.
- Implements some of the recommendations from the Department of State’s vote-by-mail report.
- Requires only persons from whom a supervisor may accept a VBM ballot request are the voter or his or her immediate family member or legal guardian, and that VBM requests may be made through a supervisor’s website.
- Requires the division to, by October 1, 2023, prescribe a statewide uniform application form to request a VBM ballot.
- Requires, instead of authorizes, a VBM ballot request to be canceled when any first-class mail is returned as undeliverable.
- Clarifies the number of alternate members to be appointed to county canvassing boards.
- Modifies timeframes for meetings of the Elections Canvassing Commission, submission of returns by county canvassing boards, and certification of presidential electors.
- Requires submission of specified information for presidential electors, revises qualifications for presidential electors, and addresses “faithless electors.”
- Allows state committeemen and state committeewomen to prequalify.
- Clarifies the existing felony for casting more than one ballot.
- Revises required frequency for campaign finance reports and preempts local governments from enacting reporting schedules that differ from those provided in statute.
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- This is an anti-transparency change and will shield campaign finances from the everyday public.
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- Adds text messages to the types of services and costs that do not constitute contributions that count toward specified limits.
- Creates new framework regulating use of voter guides.
- The bill specifies a required disclaimer for voter guides and prohibits a person from representing that a voter guide is an official publication of a political party unless such person is given specified written permission.
- Adjust fines that may be imposed and the collection of fines for violations of specified election laws.
- The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.