The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance the integrity and security of the electoral process. Key provisions include the establishment of the Office of Election Crimes and Security, which will oversee investigations into election law violations and conduct preliminary investigations into complaints. The bill also introduces mandatory signature matching training for election officials and requires voters to affirm their U.S. citizenship when registering. Additionally, it revises the responsibilities of election supervisors, mandating timely processing of voter registration applications and maintaining accurate voter records. The legislation aims to streamline election processes while ensuring compliance with new regulations and enhancing oversight.

Further amendments focus on the procedures for initiative petitions, including the requirement for a uniform petition form and the establishment of rules for signature verification. The bill also introduces stricter regulations on vote-by-mail ballots, including the necessity for voters to initiate requests and the inclusion of secrecy envelopes. Notably, it removes provisions allowing manual recounts to replace audits and prohibits certain individuals from serving on county canvassing boards if they have publicly endorsed candidates. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the electoral framework in Florida by tightening regulations, enhancing transparency, and ensuring accountability in the voting process.

Statutes affected:
S 1414 Filed: 15.21, 16.061, 97.012, 97.021, 97.022, 97.051, 97.0575, 97.1031, 98.065, 98.212, 99.012, 99.061, 99.092, 99.095, 99.097, 100.191, 100.371, 101.043, 101.048, 101.111, 101.131, 101.151, 101.161, 101.20, 101.252, 101.5606, 101.56075, 101.5612, 101.5614, 101.572, 101.591, 101.5911, 101.595, 101.6104, 101.62, 101.64, 101.657, 101.69, 101.6921, 101.6923, 101.6952, 101.694, 101.697, 101.698, 102.031, 102.141, 102.166, 103.121, 104.045, 104.187, 105.09, 106.021, 106.07, 106.08, 106.087, 106.19, 113.01, 113.02, 113.03, 113.051, 212.055, 1003.42