In the wake of a 2018 election which highlighted key flaws in Florida’s electoral processes, Senator José Javier Rodríguez (D-Miami) has filed SB 1386 to correct these issues ahead of ballots being cast in 2020. Taking into account recommendations from Supervisors of Elections and voting rights experts, Senator Rodriguez’s election reform package seeks to standardize processes and increase ease of voting for Floridians throughout the state.
The legislation is being co-sponsored by Senator Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens) and Senator Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach), who, with Senator Rodriguez, are the Democratic members of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee.
“There is nothing more important to the future of our democracy than our commitment to ensuring that every vote is counted at the ballot box,” declared Senator José Javier Rodríguez. “Unfortunately, the 2018 election revealed glaring holes in our electoral processes that left our citizens unsure that their voices had been heard. This common sense election reform package will standardize our elections throughout the state, provide certainty for Supervisors of Elections and voters, and reassure Floridians that every ballot cast is counted for the crucial 2020 election and beyond.”
“The 2018 midterm elections taught us that our electoral system is deeply flawed and requires comprehensive reform,” continued Senator Bobby Powell. “This proposed legislation ensures that our elections are conducted fairly and with integrity, so that Floridians can cast their votes with full confidence that they will be counted.”
Key reforms would include:
- Requiring fourteen (14) days of early voting in every county
- Allow early votes to be counted as they are cast
- Require standardized ballot design
- Extend the deadline for cure affidavits for VBM ballots to the 10th day after the election
- Require each SOE to provide notification updates to voters when a VBM ballot is received and if there are any issues that need correcting
- Create uniform guidelines on timely notification procedures for rejected ballots
- Create uniform guidelines on the cure process for ballots with missing or mismatched signatures
- Standardizing the measure of timeliness of receipt for VBM ballots to being postmarked by Election Day for all voters
- Require the Department of State to implement a standardized training for those in charge of determining ballot signature validity
- Require uniform poll worker training statewide
- Extend the time allotted for recounts for statewide and federal offices
- Allow voters to opt-in to receiving notices for their Supervisors of Elections by email
