Purpose


Pursuant to Section 120.54(4)(b), Florida Statutes, this emergency rule is a rule pertaining to the public health, safety, and welfare as it involves the interpretation and implementation of the requirements of Chapters 97-102 and 105 of the Florida Election Code. On May 19, 2011, House Bill 1355 was signed into law and became effective immediately. While regular rulemaking will soon occur for Rule 1S-2.042, F.A.C., this emergency rule is necessary to implement the law in a timely manner and ensure uniformity across the state in the procedures for voter registration applications provided to and received from third-party voter registrations organizations. The law amended the requirements for the registration of third-party voter registrations organizations; instituted new requirements for an accounting of voter registrations forms provided to and received from third-party voter registrations organizations; deleted quarterly reports by the organizations; and revised the enforcement provisions for violations of the statute. The emergency rule implements the statutory requirement for registration in an electronic format, adopts forms for use by organizations and supervisors of elections to account for an organization’s voter registration applications, and removes now outdated language from existing Rule 1S-2.042, F.A.C. The emergency rule will provide third-party voter registration organizations and supervisors of elections the direction they need until Rule 1S-2.042, F.A.C., can complete its normal rulemaking cycle.