House Bill 1203 seeks to enhance the security and integrity of the electoral process in Florida by amending various provisions related to absentee ballot processing and election administration. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to conduct independent procedural audits and requires the Department of State to establish rules for the security of voting procedures, including the creation of a manual and minimum security standards for absentee ballot processing. It introduces definitions for "absentee vote processing worker" and "other election system," and outlines the responsibilities of county canvassing boards in enforcing these standards. Additionally, the bill expands the role of poll watchers, allowing political action committees and political committees to designate watchers in polling areas and absentee vote processing centers, while establishing identification requirements and procedures for absentee ballot requests.

Furthermore, HB 1203 emphasizes the importance of maintaining a secure voter registration database and introduces stricter guidelines for the handling of ballots, including the requirement for separate sourcing of ballots and voter certificate envelopes. It mandates that ballots returned by registered mail must be tracked in an audit log and outlines detailed procedures for documenting the chain of custody for ballots. The bill also includes provisions for manual recounts, increasing penalties for fraudulent actions related to ballots, and classifying unauthorized possession of voting systems as felonies. Overall, the legislation aims to bolster public confidence in the electoral system by implementing stricter auditing processes, enhancing oversight through increased participation of designated observers, and ensuring the integrity of the voting process in Florida.

Statutes affected:
H 1203 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