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Florida > The Florida Election Code > Voting Methods And Procedure

§ 101.64 Delivery of vote-by-mail envelopes; form.

Overview of Statute

This statute governs the procedure by which supervisors of elections deliver vote-by-mail ballots to voters. When supervisors send vote-by-mail ballots, each ballot is sent with a secrecy envelope and a mailing envelope. The secrecy envelope contains the Voter’s Certificate.

Statute

(1) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote-by-mail ballot two envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the absent elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a mailing envelope, into which the absent elector shall then place the secrecy envelope, which shall be addressed to the supervisor and also bear on the back side a certificate in substantially the following form:

Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before Marking Ballot and Completing Voter’s Certificate.

VOTER’S CERTIFICATE

I, ___, do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a qualified and registered voter of ___ County, Florida, and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years. I also understand that failure to sign this certificate will invalidate my ballot.

(Date)                                                                                                                                       (Voter’s Signature)

(E-Mail Address)                                                                                                   (Home Telephone Number)

(Mobile Telephone Number)

(2) The certificate shall be arranged on the back of the mailing envelope so that the line for the signature of the absent elector is across the seal of the envelope; however, no statement shall appear on the envelope which indicates that a signature of the voter must cross the seal of the envelope. The absent elector shall execute the certificate on the envelope.
(3) In lieu of the voter’s certificate provided in this section, the supervisor of elections shall provide each person voting absentee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act with the standard oath prescribed by the presidential designee.
(4) The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or otherwise track the precinct of the absent elector for each vote-by-mail ballot.

(5) The secrecy envelope must include, in bold font, substantially the following message:

IN ORDER FOR YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT TO COUNT, YOUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MUST RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT BY 7 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. IF YOU WAIT TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT, YOUR VOTE MIGHT NOT COUNT. TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING, PLEASE MAIL OR TURN IN YOUR BALLOT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

History:

s. 4, ch. 7380, 1917; RGS 371; CGL 432; s. 1, ch. 25385, 1949; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 34, ch. 28156, 1953; s. 22, ch. 29934, 1955; s. 1, ch. 61-369; s. 33, ch. 65-380; s. 3, ch. 69-136; s. 5, ch. 69-280; s. 21, ch. 71-355; s. 1, ch. 73-105; s. 6, ch. 73-157; s. 39, ch. 73-333; s. 3, ch. 75-174; s. 23, ch. 77-175; s. 4, ch. 79-365; s. 1, ch. 81-106; s. 9, ch. 81-304; s. 10, ch. 82-143; s. 2, ch. 85-226; s. 1, ch. 86-33; s. 19, ch. 90-315; s. 588, ch. 95-147; s. 4, ch. 96-57; s. 14, ch. 98-129; s. 53, ch. 2001-40; s. 19, ch. 2003-415; s. 1, ch. 2004-232; s. 44, ch. 2005-277; s. 38, ch. 2005-278; s. 17, ch. 2016-37; s. 16, ch. 2019-162, eff. July 1, 2019.

Definition [Absent Elector]

Any registered and qualified voter who casts an absentee ballot. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(1).

Definition [Secrecy Envelope]

As used in the Electronic Voting Systems Act, secrecy envelope means an opaque device, used for enclosing a marked ballot, which conceals the voter’s choices. Fla. Stat. § 101.5603(6).

Definition [Ballot]

As used in the Electronic Voting Systems Act, ballot means the card, tape, or other vehicle upon which the elector’s choices are recorded. Fla. Stat. § 101.5603(2).

Definition [Person]

An individual or a corporation, association, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, club, organization, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate, or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. The term includes a political party, affiliated party committee, or political committee. Fla. Stat. § 106.011(14).

Definition [Elector]

“Elector” is synonymous with the word “voter” or “qualified elector or voter,” except where the word is used to describe presidential electors. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(15).

Definition [Election]

Any primary election, special primary election, special election, general election, or presidential preference primary election. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(12).

Cases

Florida Cases

Out-of-State Cases

Federal Cases

Regulations & Guidance

Additional Resources

Further Reading

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 163, Furnishing ballots

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 164, Casting ballots

  • 0050 Surveys 8; Marking and Counting of Ballots