This bill amends several sections of Florida law regarding special elections and the process for filling vacancies in elective offices. It requires that an officer resigning to fill a vacancy must submit a written resignation at least 5 days before the qualifying period for the new office, rather than the previous requirement of 10 days. The bill also mandates that the Governor must call a special primary election under certain circumstances and set the dates for special elections within 5 days of a vacancy occurring, ensuring that these elections are held no later than 126 days after the vacancy, with specific exceptions. Additionally, the authority for the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House to waive timeframes has been removed.

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, and outlines the conditions under which these write-in ballots may be canvassed. The bill also clarifies that a resignation submitted by an officer is effective upon submission, 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