The bill amends various sections of the Florida Statutes to enhance the integrity and security of the electoral process. Key provisions include the requirement for the Attorney General to revise criteria when petitioning the Supreme Court for advisory opinions on constitutional amendments, and updates to the responsibilities of the Office of Election Crimes and Security, which now includes issuing subpoenas and enforcing compliance. The bill mandates mandatory signature matching training for individuals involved in the electoral process and requires voter registration applicants to provide evidence of U.S. citizenship under certain circumstances. Additionally, it streamlines voter registration processes, including the direct delivery of applications by third-party organizations to county supervisors and the establishment of uniform petition forms for candidates.

Significant changes also include the deletion of provisions allowing manual recounts to replace audits, the prohibition of certain individuals from serving on county canvassing boards, and the introduction of criminal penalties for election-related offenses. The bill emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, requiring canvassing boards to publish notices and complete vote validation before certifying elections. It also outlines new procedures for handling vote-by-mail ballots, including signature matching and curing deficiencies, and establishes stricter timelines for processing voter registration applications. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen election security, improve the efficiency of voter registration and petition processes, and ensure compliance with new regulations.

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