The bill amends several sections of Florida law regarding special elections and the process for filling vacancies in elective offices. It requires that officers resigning to fill a vacancy must submit their written resignation at least 5 days before the qualifying period for the new office, rather than the previous requirement of 10 days. Additionally, the Governor is mandated to call a special primary election under certain circumstances and must set the dates for the special election within 5 days of the vacancy, ensuring that these dates are the earliest feasible. The bill also removes the authority for the Governor and legislative leaders to waive specified timeframes for special elections.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions for vote-by-mail ballots for overseas voters, requiring that these ballots be received by 7 p.m. on election day. It establishes a process for sending special write-in ballots to absent uniformed services and overseas voters if regular ballots cannot be sent on time. The bill also clarifies that a resignation is effective upon submission by the officer, rather than requiring acceptance by the Governor. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1556 Filed: 101.6952, 114.01