The purpose of the proposed amendments to this rule which deals exclusively with the transmission of absentee ballots to overseas voters (military and other U.S. citizens residing abroad) focuses primarily in 4 major ways: 1. It provides procedures ...

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Elections

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
1S-2.030: Electronic Transmission of Absentee Ballots
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed amendments to this rule which deals exclusively with the transmission of absentee ballots to overseas voters (military and other U.S. citizens residing abroad) focuses primarily in 4 major ways:
1. It provides procedures specifically allowing for the delivery and the return of absentee ballots by electronic mail.
2. It changes the requirement for delivering absentee ballots to require the ballots be sent 45 days in advance of the election, regardless of the election.
3. It reflects that overseas voters may designate the means by which they want their absentee ballot or other election materials to be delivered to them.
4. It clarifies the procedures relating to Department approved pilot programs for secure remote electronic transmission of absentee ballots.
Most of these changes are proposed in response to the recently enacted Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act (Public law 111-84), subpart H of the Military Defense Authorization Act) which enhanced the rights of military voters and overseas voters to vote by electronic means.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Transmission of Absentee Ballots to Overseas Voters.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 20.10(3), 97.012(1), 101.697 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 101.62, 101.64, 101.65, 101.697 FS.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: April 19, 2010, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Room 307, R. A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32308
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Eddie Phillips, Executive Administrative Assistant, Office of General Counsel, Florida Department of State, [phone], [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Maria Matthews, Assistant General Counsel, Florida Department of State, R. A. Gray Bldg, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL, [phone], [e-mail]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.