Florida Legislature Passes Major Election Reform

Florida Legislature Passes Major Election Reform

May 4, 2001

The Florida Legislature today passed what is by far the most sweeping election reform proposal passed in the states this year. The Florida bill, SB 1118, contains the following provisions:

$24 million for new voting systems. The bill bans punch card machines and requires counties to purchase electronic or optical scan precinct-count equipment by 2002. The state will give smaller counties $7,500 per precinct for equipment purchase, and larger counties will get $3,750 per precinct.
$6 million for counties to conduct voter education and poll worker recruitment and training.
$2 million for the creation of a statewide voter registration database

The bill also:

Requires the secretary of state to create a uniform ballot design to be used statewide
Requires data collection and reports of voter error (overvotes and undervotes)
Establishes no-excuse absentee voting
Allows for provisional ballots, permitting a voter who claims to be registered but whose eligibility to vote cannot be determined at the polls on election day, to cast a ballot
Sets new deadlines for counties to submit election returns to the state
Creates uniform recount provisions
Requires the secretary of state to develop rules for determining voter intent
Creates uniform standards for voting by overseas citizens
Requires the secretary of state to set standards for and county election supervisors to implement voter education, including but not limited to registration, polling place and absentee balloting procedures, voter rights and responsibilities, sample ballots, and public service announcements
Sets standards for poll worker training
Eliminates the run-off primary
Requires a study of the feasibility of establishing uniform statewide polling place hours.

Both houses of the Legislature passed the bill on May 4, and Governor Bush has said he'll sign it. You can link to the Florida Legislature's web site to view SB 1118 by clicking here.

For more information on the Elections Reform Task Force:

Tim Storey or Jennie Drage (303) 364-7700
or Susan Frederick (202) 624-3566