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Recommendations for Increased Accessibility& Efficiency in Florida Elections <br /> Florida Department of State <br /> �.,. Additional Considerations <br /> 1. Signature Updates—Allow signature updates to be made from paper precinct <br /> register/electronic poll books, early voting certificates and absentee ballot certificates (if <br /> counted). Current law only allows signature updates to be accepted from a completed <br /> application form. These signature updates would ensure more current signatures are on <br /> record. <br /> 2. Absentee Voters with New Addresses—Allow the absentee ballot of a voter who makes an <br /> address change after casting an absentee ballot to be counted in the county in which the <br /> absentee ballot was cast. Currently, a voter remains on the rolls for purposes of counting his <br /> or her absentee ballot if the voter dies on or before Election Day. The same consideration <br /> should be applied to voters who move after casting their ballot. <br /> 3. Florida Election Emergency Act—Revise the Florida Election Emergency Act, which has <br /> not been updated since it was enacted in 1992. During Hurricane Sandy, several Florida <br /> voters were either visiting or serving as first responders in the impact area and were unable to <br /> return home to vote. Additionally, the storm impacted major city hubs and could have <br /> delayed the delivery of absentee ballots if the mail had not been rerouted. Updates should be <br /> made to allow Floridians in such circumstances to vote. <br /> 4. Voter Registration Processing—Require paper voter registrations, including signatures to <br /> be scanned and entered within seven days of receipt in the office of any voter registration <br /> official. The current timeframe is 13 days. A shorter timeframe, however, would ensure more <br /> timely notice for voters who need to provide missing information in order to become a <br /> registered voter in time for an election. <br /> 5. Voter Registration Records—Allow the official voter registration record to be the <br /> application image or information that is in the statewide voter registration system. This <br /> change would minimize the paper transfer of voter registration applications from one official <br /> to another as long as the image is properly scanned and recorded in the voter registration <br /> system. <br /> 6. Supervisor of Elections Continuing Education —The Florida State Association of <br /> Supervisors of Elections, individual supervisors of elections and the Division of Elections <br /> should work closely to identify and promote best practices from around the state that are <br /> continually revised and communicated to election officials and their staff in routine trainings <br /> conducted online and in person. This effort should include new supervisors of elections to <br /> undergo a minimum number of hours of certified training and testing on the Election Code. <br /> 7. Local Administration of Elections — Supervisors of elections should strongly consider the <br /> following ideas presented during Secretary Detzner's fact-finding efforts: <br /> a. Purchase certified voting equipment that reflects advances in technology. <br /> Q3 - fi' 11 <br />