Purpose


This rule deals exclusively with the request, delivery and return of absentee ballots for overseas voters (uniformed services members and civilian U.S. citizens who are overseas). The changes focus on updating the rule in four ways. The title of the rule is changed to read as “Absentee Ballots for Overseas Voters (Uniformed Services and Civilian).” Proposed revisions are consistent with changes in the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (Public law 111-84) which facilitated voting for military voters and overseas civilian including allowing e-mail to be used to communicate and transmit absentee ballot requests and blank ballots to voters subject to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Additionally, the rule acknowledges online ballot delivery systems. The ballot instructions are also amended to incorporate notice to voters regarding the importance of the signature in counting an absentee ballot. This conforms to new law from sections 38 and 39 of Chapter 2011-40, Laws of Florida, which became effective May 19, 2011. Additionally, the rule deletes subsection (8) of the rule which is no longer necessary.