The bill amends various sections of Florida's election laws to enhance the security and integrity of the voting process. It introduces a definition for "other election system," which includes any information technology used in elections that can modify ballots or store critical election data. The Department of State is tasked with adopting rules to ensure the security of voting procedures, including the creation of a manual and minimum security standards for county canvassing boards. Key provisions include requirements for handling absentee ballots, real-time video monitoring of canvassing board meetings, and stricter auditing processes after elections. The bill also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a unique county election serial number for each ballot and outlines strict security protocols for absentee vote counting locations.

Additionally, the bill enhances the procedures for vote-by-mail ballots, requiring voters to provide identification and establishing a "voter certificate envelope" in place of the previous "secrecy envelope." It mandates that ballots must be returned in a sealed and signed envelope and allows for the counting of ballots even if the voter dies after mailing, under certain conditions. The bill also clarifies signature matching requirements for vote-by-mail ballots and introduces provisions for bipartisan supervised voting in assisted living and nursing home facilities. Overall, these amendments aim to improve the integrity, transparency, and accessibility of the voting process in Florida, with an effective date set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 396 Filed: 101.21, 101.545, 101.5614, 101.6103, 101.6104, 101.65, 101.655, 101.69, 101.6923, 102.014, 104.21, 104.30