Bill Text: FL S0228 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Online Voter Application

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-15 - Chapter No. 2015-36 [S0228 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S0228-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 228
       
       
        
       By Senator Clemens
       
       
       
       
       
       27-00134-15                                            2015228__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to online voter registration; creating
    3         s. 97.0525, F.S.; requiring the Division of Elections
    4         of the Department of State to develop an online voter
    5         registration system; providing application and
    6         security requirements for the system; requiring the
    7         system to compare information submitted online with
    8         Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
    9         records; providing for the disposition of voter
   10         registration applications; authorizing the division to
   11         establish procedures for certain applicants; requiring
   12         system compliance with federal accessibility
   13         provisions; providing for construction; providing an
   14         effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 97.0525, Florida Statutes, is created to
   19  read:
   20         97.0525 Online voter registration.—
   21         (1) Beginning January 1, 2016, an applicant may submit an
   22  online voter registration application using the procedures set
   23  forth in this section.
   24         (2) The division shall establish a secure Internet website
   25  to allow an applicant to:
   26         (a) Submit a voter registration application, including an
   27  initial voter registration application and an update to a voter
   28  registration record.
   29         (b) Submit information necessary to establish the
   30  applicant’s eligibility to vote under s. 97.041, which must
   31  include the information required for the uniform statewide voter
   32  registration application pursuant to s. 97.052(2).
   33         (c) Swear to the oath required pursuant to s. 97.051.
   34         (3) The division shall establish appropriate technological
   35  security measures, including use of a unique identifier for each
   36  applicant, to prevent an unauthorized person from altering any
   37  voter registration information.
   38         (4) The online voter registration system shall compare the
   39  applicant’s Florida driver license number or Florida
   40  identification number submitted through the online voter
   41  registration application with information maintained by the
   42  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to confirm that
   43  the name and date of birth on the application are consistent
   44  with the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
   45  Vehicles.
   46         (a) If the applicant’s name and date of birth are
   47  consistent with the records of the Department of Highway Safety
   48  and Motor Vehicles, the online voter registration system shall
   49  transmit, using the statewide voter registration system
   50  maintained pursuant to s. 98.035, the applicant’s submission,
   51  along with the digital signature of the applicant on file with
   52  the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to the
   53  supervisor of elections of the county in which the applicant
   54  resides. The applicant’s digital signature shall satisfy the
   55  signature requirement of s. 97.052(2)(q).
   56         (b) If the applicant’s name and date of birth cannot be
   57  verified by the records of the Department of Highway Safety and
   58  Motor Vehicles but the applicant is otherwise eligible to vote,
   59  the online voter registration system shall issue a unique
   60  identification number and transmit the application to the
   61  supervisor of elections of the county in which the voter
   62  resides, for disposition pursuant to s. 97.073.
   63         (c) The division may establish procedures for applicants
   64  who do not have a Florida driver license or Florida
   65  identification card.
   66         (5) Upon submission of a completed online voter
   67  registration application, the website shall generate an
   68  immediate electronic confirmation that the supervisor of
   69  elections has received the application and shall provide
   70  instructions regarding the applicant’s ability to check the
   71  status of the application thereafter.
   72         (6) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
   73  supervisor of elections shall process the application pursuant
   74  to s. 97.053.
   75         (7) The website must comply with the requirements of s. 508
   76  of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans
   77  with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to voters with
   78  disabilities. The division shall include accessibility experts
   79  in the development of the online voter registration system and
   80  website, and the system’s accessibility shall be verified by an
   81  independent body with expertise on the matter.
   82         (8) No legal distinction shall be made between online
   83  registration under this section and registration in person, by
   84  mail, or by other methods provided by general law.
   85         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.