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Recommendations for Increased Accessibility & Efficiency in Florida Elections <br /> Florida Department of State <br /> Current Law: <br /> By December 31, 2013, all voting systems utilized by voters during a state election shall <br /> permit placement on the ballot of the full text of a constitutional amendment or revision <br /> containing stricken or underlined text. Furthermore, a ballot statement that consists of the full <br /> text of an amendment or revision shall be presumed to be a clear and unambiguous statement <br /> of the substance and effect of the amendment or revision, providing fair notice to the electors <br /> of the content of the amendment or revision and sufficiently advising electors of the issue <br /> upon which they are to vote. <br /> Considerations for Effective Election Administration <br /> Absentee Ballot Voting <br /> 1. Establish an earlier timeframe for absentee ballot mailings and requests and an earlier <br /> timeframe to canvass absentee ballots. <br /> Amend § 101.62, Fla. Stat., and mitigate the possibility of mail delivery delays by revising <br /> the deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to be at least 10 days before an <br /> election and the deadline for the supervisor of elections to mail the ballot to be at least eight <br /> days before an election. Also, revise the mailing period for absentee ballots to non- <br /> UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) voters who have <br /> requested an absentee ballot to between the 45th and 35th days before an election. <br /> Supervisors of elections should also be allowed to begin canvassing these absentee ballots <br /> earlier than the current statutes allow. <br /> Current Law: <br /> The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is six days before the election and <br /> the deadline for the supervisor of elections to mail the ballot is four days before the election. <br /> Meanwhile, non-UOCAVA absentee ballots must be mailed between the 35th and 28th day <br /> before Election Day. The deadline for UOCAVA ballots to be mailed is 45 days prior to <br /> Election Day. Canvassing of absentee ballots may begin 15 days prior to Election Day. <br /> 2. Improve"In-person Absentee" Voting <br /> "In-person absentee" voting, as currently implemented, has created a de facto early voting <br /> extension that can interfere with Election Day preparations and delay election results until <br /> after Election Day. Suggestions to make the voting process more efficient in the days <br /> leading up to Election Day include requiring in-person voters to cast a ballot at early voting <br /> sites during early voting or at a voting precinct on Election Day rather than at a supervisors <br /> of elections office, which requires additional staff time to facilitate and canvass. <br /> Considerations should also be given to whether"in-person absentee"voting is necessary on <br /> the day before Election Day if the voter is able to vote on Election Day. <br /> q' 3 9 <br />