The purpose of the rule is to satisfy the requirement to provide minimum standards for county supervisors of elections to implement regarding nonpartisan voter education. The proposed revisions reflect the Department of State’s review of best trends ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Elections

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
1S-2.033: Standards for Nonpartisan Voter Education
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule is to satisfy the requirement to provide minimum standards for county supervisors of elections to implement regarding nonpartisan voter education. The proposed revisions reflect the Department of State’s review of best trends and practices associated with voter education programs and activities reported by county Supervisors of Election in the last couple of general election years. The revisions emphasize expanding use and reliance on the Internet as a primary medium for public access and dissemination of election information.
SUMMARY: The proposed revisions provide updated minimum standards for nonpartisan voter education.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 20.10(3), 97.012(1), 98.255 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 98.255 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW(IF NOT REQUESTED, THIS HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD):
DATE AND TIME: August 3, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of State, R. A. Gray Building, Room 307, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
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: Nolah Shotwell, Executive Assistant, Office of the General Counsel, Florida Department of State at [e-mail] or [phone]. 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 IS: Maria Matthews, Assistant General Counsel, Florida Department of State, [phone], [e-mail]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

1S-2.033 Standards for Nonpartisan Voter Education.

(1) Voter Guide. The cCounty supervisors of elections shall create a vVoter gGuide as part of their nonpartisan voter and voting education efforts.

(a) A The vVoter gGuide must shall include the following information:

1. How to register to vote including how to register by mail.;

2. Where to obtain voter registration applications are available.;

3. How to register by mail;

3.4. Dates for upcoming elections and early voting periods.;

4.5. Registration deadlines for the next primary and general election.;

5.6. How voters can should update their voter registration information such as changes in name, address or party affiliation.;

6. How voters can update their signatures and why is it important to keep the signature current.

7. Information on how to obtain, vote and return an absentee ballot.;

8. The Voter’s Bill of Voters’ Rrights and Rresponsibilities pursuant to Section 101.031, F.S.;

9. Polling information including what times the polls are open, what to bring to the polls, the list of acceptable IDs, and what to expect at the polls including when the voter may vote a provisional ballot.;

10. What it means for Florida to be a closed Primary Election state.

11. Information on how voter information cards are issued when there is a change in polling place or precinct.

12.10. Instructions on the county’s particular voting system.;

13.11. Supervisor’s contact information.; and

14. Supervisor’s website address.

15.12. Any other information the supervisor deems important.

(b) Alternatively, the supervisor of elections can use and supplement the Department of State’s Voter Guide to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a).

(2)(b) Distribution of Voter Guide. The supervisor of elections shall make provide the vVoter gGuide available on his or her website and upon request, at the following locations: at as many places as possible within the county including:

(a)1. Any voter registration agency Agencies designated under as voter registration sites pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. A voter registration agency is any public library, any office that provides services for persons with disabilities including any center for independent living, any office for public assistance, and any military recruitment office.;

(b)2. The supervisor’s office.;

3. Public libraries;

(c)4. A cCommunity centers.;

(d)5. A pPost offices.;

6. Centers for Independent Living;

(e)7. A cCounty governmental offices.; and

(f)8. At any all registration drives conducted by the supervisor of elections.

(3) Website. Each supervisor of elections shall maintain a website that includes voter and voting information. This requirement may be satisfied by providing a link to a webpage containing such information via the county’s website. The website or link shall include, at a minimum:

(a)(2) If a supervisor has a website, it must take into account all of the information that is required to be included in Tthe county’s vVoter gGuide.

(b) Information on how to obtain a copy of the voter’s sample ballot for an upcoming election In addition, when a sample ballot is available, the website must provide either information on how to obtain a sample ballot or a direct hyperlink to a sample ballot for the upcoming election.

(c) Notice of change of polling place and precinct to all registered voters.

(d) Only if feasible, a polling place or precinct finder that allows a voter to determine his or her precinct or polling place.

(4) Voter Registration Education and Training Programs. A county supervisors of elections shall:

(a)(3) At least once a year in each public high school in the county, the supervisor shall Cconduct at least once a year a high school voter registration/education program in each public high school in the county. The program must be developed in cooperation with the local school board and be designed for maximum effectiveness in reaching and educating high school students who are eligible to pre-register or register.

(b)(4) Conduct at least once a year At least once a year on each college campus in the county, the supervisor shall provide a college voter registration/education program on each college campus in the county. This program must be designed for maximum effectiveness in reaching and educating college students.

(5) County supervisors of elections shall post the listing of the voters’ rights and responsibilities pursuant to Section 101.031, F.S., at the supervisor’s office.

(c)(6) County supervisors of elections shall Pprovide, upon reasonable request and notice, voter registration workshops for individuals and organizations sponsoring voter registration drives.

(d) Assist, upon reasonable request, voter registration agencies designated under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including to help distribution and collect voter registration applications submitted through these agencies.

(e)(7) County supervisors of elections shall Cconduct demonstrations of the county’s voting equipment in community centers and, senior citizen residences, and for to various community groups, including minority and disability groups.

(5) Notices and public announcements. A county supervisor of elections shall:

(a) Post at the supervisor’s office, the Voter’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities as set forth in Section 101.031, F.S., and at each polling place during the early voting period and on Election Day,

(b)(8) County supervisors of elections shall Pparticipate in available radio, television and print programs and interviews, in both general and minority media outlets, to provide voting information.

(c) Publish in the newspaper sample ballots or alternatively, may mail sample ballots to registered voters in accordance with Section 101.20(2), F.S.

(d)(9) Supervisors of elections shall Pprovide notice of changes of polling places and precincts to all affected registered voters as required by Section 101.71, F.S. This notice shall include publication in a newspaper of general circulation as well as posting the changes in at least ten conspicuous places in the county. If the supervisor has a website, the supervisor shall post the changes on the website. The supervisors shall also widely distribute a notice that if a voter does not receive a revised voter identification card within 20 days of the election the voter should contact a specific number at the supervisor’s office to obtain polling place information.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 20.10, 97.012(1), 98.255, 97.012(1) FS. Law Implemented 98.255 FS. History–New 5-30-02, Amended _______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Donald Palmer, Director, Division of Elections

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Secretary Kurt S. Browning

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 28, 2009

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: February 13, 2009