The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance the security and integrity of electronic and electromechanical voting systems. It requires the Department of State to establish minimum security standards for these systems, which will be evaluated and updated annually by the newly created Election Technology Advisory Board. Key provisions include the introduction of new definitions such as "auditable storage methods," "election data," and "voter data," as well as the establishment of protocols for the certification and procurement of election systems. The bill also emphasizes the need for cybersecurity expertise within the Bureau of Voting Systems and Other Election Systems, which will provide technical support and ensure compliance with election technology standards.

Additionally, the bill outlines stricter procurement processes for voting equipment, mandates civil penalties for vendors who fail to disclose defects, and requires thorough testing and public transparency during the election process. It specifies that manual audits must be conducted in randomly selected precincts, with results made public before election certification. The legislation aims to strengthen the integrity, security, and efficiency of Florida's electoral process, with an effective date set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 394 Filed: 97.021, 101.015, 101.017, 101.293, 101.294, 101.295, 101.34, 101.341, 101.5604, 101.5605, 101.5606, 101.56065, 101.5612, 101.591, 101.68, 101.69