Bill Text: FL S1360 | 2015 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Election Reform

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2015-05-01 - Died in Judiciary [S1360 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S1360-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2015                             CS for SB 1360
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senator Lee
       
       
       
       
       
       582-04200-15                                          20151360c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to election reform; amending s.
    3         97.021, F.S.; defining the term “address of legal
    4         residence”; amending s. 97.053, F.S.; requiring a
    5         voter registration application to include certain
    6         additional distinguishing information; specifying that
    7         an applicant’s failure to include additional
    8         distinguishing information on a voter registration
    9         application does not affect his or her qualifications
   10         to register or vote; amending s. 98.015, F.S.;
   11         providing that a list of valid addresses maintained by
   12         a supervisor of elections include certain additional
   13         distinguishing information; providing an effective
   14         date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Subsections (3) through (44) of section 97.021,
   19  Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) through
   20  (45), respectively, and a new subsection (3) is added to that
   21  section, to read:
   22         97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except
   23  where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
   24         (3) “Address of legal residence” means the legal
   25  residential address of the elector and includes all information
   26  necessary to differentiate one residence from another,
   27  including, but not limited to, a distinguishing apartment,
   28  suite, lot, room, or dormitory room number or other identifier.
   29         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
   30  97.053, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   31         97.053 Acceptance of voter registration applications.—
   32         (5)(a) A voter registration application is complete if it
   33  contains the following information necessary to establish the
   34  applicant’s eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041, including:
   35         1. The applicant’s name.
   36         2. The applicant’s address of legal residence, including a
   37  distinguishing apartment, suite, lot, room, or dormitory room
   38  number or other identifier, if appropriate address. Failure to
   39  include a distinguishing apartment, suite, lot, room, or
   40  dormitory room or other identifier on a voter registration
   41  application does not impact a voter’s eligibility to register to
   42  vote or cast a ballot, and such an omission may not serve as the
   43  basis for a challenge to a voter’s eligibility or reason to not
   44  count a ballot.
   45         3. The applicant’s date of birth.
   46         4. A mark in the checkbox affirming that the applicant is a
   47  citizen of the United States.
   48         5.a. The applicant’s current and valid Florida driver
   49  license number or the identification number from a Florida
   50  identification card issued under s. 322.051, or
   51         b. If the applicant has not been issued a current and valid
   52  Florida driver license or a Florida identification card, the
   53  last four digits of the applicant’s social security number.
   54  
   55  In case an applicant has not been issued a current and valid
   56  Florida driver license, Florida identification card, or social
   57  security number, the applicant shall affirm this fact in the
   58  manner prescribed in the uniform statewide voter registration
   59  application.
   60         6. A mark in the checkbox affirming that the applicant has
   61  not been convicted of a felony or that, if convicted, has had
   62  his or her civil rights restored.
   63         7. A mark in the checkbox affirming that the applicant has
   64  not been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to
   65  voting or that, if so adjudicated, has had his or her right to
   66  vote restored.
   67         8. The original signature or a digital signature
   68  transmitted by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
   69  Vehicles of the applicant swearing or affirming under the
   70  penalty for false swearing pursuant to s. 104.011 that the
   71  information contained in the registration application is true
   72  and subscribing to the oath required by s. 3, Art. VI of the
   73  State Constitution and s. 97.051.
   74         Section 3. Subsection (12) of section 98.015, Florida
   75  Statutes, is amended to read:
   76         98.015 Supervisor of elections; election, tenure of office,
   77  compensation, custody of registration-related documents, office
   78  hours, successor, seal; appointment of deputy supervisors;
   79  duties.—
   80         (12) Each supervisor shall maintain a list of valid
   81  residential street addresses for purposes of verifying the legal
   82  addresses of voters residing in the supervisor’s county. To the
   83  maximum extent practicable, the list shall include information
   84  necessary to differentiate one residence from another,
   85  including, but not limited to, a distinguishing apartment,
   86  suite, lot, room, or dormitory room number or other identifier.
   87  The supervisor shall make all reasonable efforts to coordinate
   88  with county 911 service providers, property appraisers, the
   89  United States Postal Service, or other agencies as necessary to
   90  ensure the continued accuracy of such list. The supervisor shall
   91  provide the list of valid residential addresses to the statewide
   92  voter registration system in the manner and frequency specified
   93  by rule of the department.
   94         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.